Biden Tells Xi US Adheres to ‘One China’ Policy

US President Joe Biden has reportedly told Chinese President Xi Jinping that the US does not support “Taiwan’s independence.”

At a virtual summit on Monday (US time), Biden said that the US adheres to the ‘one China’ policy, China Central Television (CCTV) reported following the bilateral summit.

“The US government will consistently and long-term adhere to the ‘one China’ policy, [the US] does not support ‘Taiwan’s independence’ and hopes to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region,” the TV channel quoted Biden as saying.

Joe Biden noted during the meeting that the US neither aims to change China’s system nor enter a conflict with Beijing, according to CCTV.

While commenting on the outcome of the summit, a senior American administration official argued that President Joe Biden reaffirmed the US “very longstanding approach” towards Taiwan.

“There is something that the US has reiterated at various points over time, what our officials have reiterated publicly earlier this year that there is no particularly new or different as a part of the US policy,” the official said.

According to the White House readout of Biden’s virtual meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, “President Biden underscored that the United States remains committed to the ‘one China’ policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances, and that the United States strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his turn, warned Joe Biden during the online meeting that China is ready to take decisive actions if separatist forces in Taiwan cross “the red line,” Xinhua reported.

“We are patient and willing to do our utmost to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity,” Xi Jinping said, as quoted by the China Central Television (CCTV), warning that if “Taiwan independence” forces provoke the issue, or even cross the red line, the mainland will have to take decisive measures.

The Chinese leader said that he hopes the US president will show political leadership and bring Washington’s China policy towards a “rational” track.

Xi also told Biden during the online meeting that the interests of the two countries are deeply interconnected, and cooperation will be beneficial to both, according to Xinhua.

Source: Agencies