Xi Jinping met – possibly for the last time – with outgoing US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the US not to cross a “red line” in supporting Taiwan, two-and-a-half months before Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Mr Xi issued the warning during what is likely to be his last face-to-face meeting with outgoing US President Joe Biden in Lima on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
He insisted that “the Taiwan cause, democracy and human rights” as well as China’s political and economic system and its development interests are “China’s red lines and should not be questioned,” according to with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
He called these issues “guardrails” and “the most important safety net for China-US relations,” according to CCTV.
Mr Xi condemned the “autonomous actions” of Taiwan’s leaders, which he said were “incompatible with peace and security” in the region.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never ruled out using force to reunite the island with the mainland. In recent years, it has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure, sending warplanes, drones and warships around the island almost daily.
Although Washington does not have diplomatic relations with Taipei – officially the Republic of China – the US has historically been the most important protecting power and the main supplier of Taiwan’s military.
In his meeting with Joe Biden, Xi Jinping also said that Washington “should not intervene in bilateral disputes (…) and not encourage or support provocative actions” in the South China Sea, according to CCTV.
China claims, on historical grounds, almost all of the South China Sea, is in conflict with other countries in the region (Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia) that have competing claims, defying a 2016 international court ruling that Beijing has no legal basis for them.
Tensions in this maritime area of ​​strategic importance for global trade have escalated in recent months, with a series of incidents involving ships from China on the one hand and ships from the Philippines and Vietnam on the other.
Source :Skai
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