Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Joe Biden during their four-hour meeting on Wednesday that Taiwan was the biggest, most dangerous issue in U.S.-China ties, a senior U.S. official told reporters.

The official quoted Xi as saying China’s preference was for peaceful “reunification” with the Chinese-claimed island of Taiwan, but that he went on to talk about conditions in which force could be used.

Xi was trying to indicate that China is not preparing for a massive invasion of Taiwan, but that does not change the U.S. approach, the official said.

“President Xi … underscored that this was the biggest, most potentially dangerous issue in U.S.-China relations, laid out clearly that, you know, their preference was for peaceful reunification but then moved immediately to conditions that the potential use of force could be utilized,” the senior U.S. official told reporters, referring to Xi’s comments on Taiwan.

Biden responded by assuring Xi that Washington was determined to maintain peace in the region.

“President Biden responded very clearly that the long-standing position of the United States was … determination to maintain peace and stability,” the official said.

“President Xi responded: look, peace is … all well and good but at some point we need to move towards resolution more generally,” the official said.

  • @Buffalox
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    221 year ago

    Yes probably, but that is very easily shown to be irrational.
    Taiwan is an independent country now, they have no right to control that by force.
    Peace is a better condition to prosper under, and is therefore more profitable than war.
    Regarding pride, the rebels won all of mainland China, their enemy fleeing to Taiwan is almost ideal, to avoid a massacre. Wanting a massacre for pride is as evil as you can get.

    I think USA and the rest of the international community needs to tell China to kindly stuff it where the sun doesn’t shine.
    We gave in to Russia for far to long, both USA and EU. It only created more problems not less.
    Stop appeasing authoritarians who desire an ever bigger powergrab.