Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
President China Xi Jinping hurled a stern warning to the President United States of America Joe Biden not to support independence Taiwan.
In a three-and-a-half hour virtual meeting with Biden, Xi warned the US not to cross the line and not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue.
“Taiwan authorities have repeatedly tried to rely on the US for independence,” Xi told Biden as quoted by Xinhua news agency on Tuesday (16/11).
“Some in the US intend to use Taiwan to control China. This trend is very dangerous and is like playing with fire. And those who play with fire will get burned,” he added.
Meanwhile, Biden did not remain silent. He stressed the US stance that condemns all forms of changes in the status quo of Taiwan now and in the future.
“On Taiwan, President Biden underlined that the United States … strongly opposes unilateral attempts to alter the status quo or undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” the White House statement was quoted as saying. AFP.
The statement reaffirmed the longstanding US policy of not recognizing Taiwan’s independence but supporting the defense of the island.
According to a U.S. official who declined to be named, the Taiwan issue was one of the topics that Biden and Xi talked a lot about in today’s virtual meeting.
In addition to Taiwan, Biden also touched on US concerns over wider human rights abuses and the mass repression of the Uighur Muslim minority in Xinjiang.
At the beginning of the virtual meeting, Biden and Xi were friendly to each other. Xi even referred to Biden as an old friend.
Meanwhile, Biden expressed his hope that today’s virtual meeting with Xi could be held honestly and openly between the two.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking to each other, and I hope we can have an honest conversation tonight,” Biden said during the virtual meeting. CNN.
Biden was seen sitting at the Roosevelt Room table in the White House with Xi’s face flashing on the screen.
Meanwhile, Xi is seen sitting in a large room within the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with a smile plastered on his face.
Although long unplanned, Biden and Xi’s virtual meeting did not result in any agreement.
Several US officials considered that this meeting was not aimed at reaching a certain agreement, but rather to reduce US-China tensions which have been heating up in recent times.
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