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.
China has no claim to Taiwan whatsoever and I’m not talking about history. The majority of the Taiwanese people do not want unification, peaceful or otherwise, and that is all that matters. They’ve seen what happened to China’s “Special Administrative Region” and know what’s in store for them once the grubby old men yelling at flags in Peking get their greedy little hands on a free country …
If the people in Taiwan at some point change their mind (perhaps because China has changed significantly), then that is their decision as well, but until then, I’m all for supporting them to maintain their freedom, whatever the cost. “Mourir pour Taiwan?” - Yes (*), if you make it necessary by starting a war of aggression against your neighbors.
The days of “backyard politics” are over, as Putin is just learning the hard way in Ukraine.
(*) And we all know the usual counter: “That’s easy for you to say, keyboard warrior!” - but who wouldn’t be impacted by a war between China and the US?
China and Taiwan can be one country tomorrow. I’ve said it a hundred times.
All China has to do is cede full control to Taiwan. It will be governed by Taiwan but it will be one country.
Yes I know it’s too hard politically and unrealistic. Because they don’t really want unification they want control.
