Chinese President Xi Jinping has cautioned the United States against crossing a “red line” in its support for Taiwan, while conveying to his counterpart Joe Biden that Beijing is open to collaborating with the incoming Donald Trump administration.
The two leaders convened on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, just two months before Donald Trump assumes office, amidst worries about potential new trade conflicts and diplomatic disruptions.
China asserts its claim over Taiwan as part of its territory and has not dismissed the possibility of using force to claim it, whereas the United States remains Taiwan’s primary security ally, despite not recognizing Taipei diplomatically.
Mr. Xi informed Joe Biden that “the Taiwan issue, democracy and human rights, pathways and systems, and development interests are China’s four red lines that are not to be challenged,” as reported by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Xi Jinping and Joe Biden have been at the forefront of efforts to reduce tensions related to trade and Taiwan.
“The separatist actions advocating for ‘Taiwan independence’ are inconsistent with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he continued.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry stated that “China’s persistent military provocations near Taiwan are fundamentally undermining regional peace and stability and pose a significant threat to global economic well-being.”
Mr. Xi further articulated that the US “should refrain from interfering in bilateral disputes… and should not endorse or support provocative tendencies” in the South China Sea, according to CCTV.
Donald Trump waged a challenging trade war with China, imposing tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese goods, which led to retaliatory measures from Beijing.
This year, Beijing has aggressively asserted its extensive claims in the disputed waters, despite increased tensions with regional neighbors and a long-standing international ruling that invalidates its claims.
Mr. Xi also stated that China’s stance on the war in Ukraine was “open and transparent,” and asserted that Beijing would prevent tensions on the Korean peninsula from “escalating into conflict or chaos,” as reported by CCTV.
During a separate meeting, he announced that China would host the next APEC summit in 2026.
State news agency Xinhua indicated that those discussions would focus on “uniting Asia-Pacific nations to promote open economic and trade cooperation while rejecting protectionist and confrontational trade approaches.”
Nonetheless, President Xi expressed that China would “strive for a smooth transition” in its relations with the United States and is prepared to engage with the incoming Trump administration.
“China is ready to collaborate with the new US administration to maintain communication, enhance cooperation, and manage differences, aiming for a seamless transition in China-US relations,” Mr. Xi conveyed to Joe Biden through a translator.
During his previous term in the White House, Donald Trump initiated a severe trade war with China, imposing tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese products and provoking reprisals from Beijing.
He adopted a similar stance during his current campaign.
Both nations should “continue exploring the proper way for the two major countries to coexist positively,” Mr. Xi remarked.
He warned that relations could “face challenges or even regression” if one side perceives the other as a competitor or adversary, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
“Competition between major nations should not be the fundamental guiding principle of our times,” President Xi emphasized, advocating against a “small yard, high fences” mentality.
He concluded that “a stable China-US relationship is vital” for both countries and the global community, reiterating Beijing’s commitment to fostering healthy relations.
However, he underscored that China’s position of “firmly safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and development interests has remained unchanged,” according to Xinhua.
