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Biden raises concerns about tensions in Taiwan Strait during call with Xi

ROC Central News Agency

03/19/2022 01:33 PM

Washington, March 18 (CNA) United States President Joe Biden expressed concern about China's "provocative actions" during a video call with China's leader Xi Jinping (習近平) on Friday, according to the White House.

Biden and Xi held a nearly two-hour meeting on Friday to discuss the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, during which Washington warned there would be "consequences" if Beijing, which has so far been reluctant to criticize the Russian aggression, provides material support to Moscow.

Biden also touched upon the Taiwan issue during the meeting, underscoring concerns about Beijing's "coercive and provocative actions" across the Taiwan Strait, a senior American administration official said during a background press call held after the bilateral talks.

According to a readout of the talks issued by the White House, Biden also told his Chinese counterpart that the U.S. continues to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo.

Biden reiterated that the U.S. remains committed to its one-China policy and stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the senior official added.

Xi, on the other hand, warned of a profound impact on the relations between the two countries if the U.S. does not properly handle the Taiwan question, according to a readout issued by the Chinese government.

The Chinese leader, without elaborating, also accused some people in the U.S. of "sending wrong signals to Taiwan's independence forces."

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of Chinese territory and has threatened to take drastic measures should Taiwan move toward formal independence.

Asked if Biden responded to Xi's accusation, the senior official said "Biden's response was about just reaffirming our continued, consistent policy -- very longstanding policy -- while underscoring concerns about Beijing's coercive and provocative actions across the Strait."

"The Biden administration has consistently demonstrated rock-solid support for Taiwan and will continue to do so," the official added.

In a press statement issued on Saturday in Taipei, Taiwan's Presidential Office thanked the U.S.' emphasis on security in the Taiwan Strait and support of Taiwan, adding that Taiwan will continue to work closely with the U.S. and other like-minded countries.

Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the region, the Office's spokesman Xavier Chang (張惇涵) said, urging China to shoulder its responsibility as a member of the region.

(By Chiang Chin-yeh and Teng Pei-ju)

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