US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping discussed Thursday, July 28, by telephone for more than two hours, and discussed in particular the growing tensions between their two countries over Taiwan and their trade disputes.
Chinese state media reported an interview “sincere and thorough”during which the Chinese president warned his American counterpart not to “don’t play with fire” about Taiwan. “Those who play with fire end up getting burned”said Mr. Xi to Mr. Biden, quoted by the new China agency. “I hope the US side fully understands this”he added.
According to the state agency, “the two presidents felt that their telephone conversation had been sincere and thorough”. “The conversation between President Biden and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China ended at 10:50 a.m.”had simply announced the White House, earlier, in a press release.
Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, a provocation according to Beijing
It’s the fifth virtual summit between the two officials since Mr Biden became president a year and a half ago, but the mutual defiance between China and the United States is becoming harder to hide. Beijing and Washington are already at odds over trade. The two world powers now oppose each other because of Taiwan.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said before the call that “tensions around China’s aggressive and coercive behavior in the Indo-Pacific” would be on the agenda. Latest reason for friction to date: a possible trip by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan.
China considers the island to be one of its historical provinces which it has not yet succeeded in reunifying with the rest of the country. Opposed to any initiative that would give the Taiwanese authorities international legitimacy, it is against any official contact between Taiwan and other states. Although US officials travel to Taiwan frequently, Beijing considers a trip by Mme Pelosi, one of the highest figures in the American state, would be a major provocation.
Fear of potential military action in Taiwan
Washington devra “bear all the consequences” of this potential visit, that Mme Pelosi has yet to confirm, Beijing warned on Wednesday. General Mark Milley, the US Chief of Staff, told the press that if Nancy Pelosi asked “military support”then he would do “everything necessary to ensure safe driving” of his business.
The tensions surrounding this trip are only part of the problem. US officials fear that President Xi is mulling the use of force to impose control on Taiwan. Once considered improbable, the hypothesis of an invasion or other form of military action is increasingly considered.
Joe Biden’s conflicting statements on Taiwan – he said in May that the US would defend the island, before the White House insisted Taiwan’s policy“strategic ambiguity” had not changed – did not help. Although the US president prides himself on a close relationship with Mr Xi, the pair have yet to see each other in person since he took office, largely due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“Make sure the lines of communication” are open
According to the White House, Mr. Biden’s main objective was to establish “safeguards” for the two superpowers, in order to avoid an open conflict due to their differences and their geopolitical rivalry. Mr. Biden wanted “make sure” open “the lines of communication with President Xi on all issues, whether it’s issues we agree on or issues we have significant difficulty on, that they can always pick up the phone and speak frankly to each other”a dit M. Kirby.
Asked about Mr Biden’s possible lifting of some of the 25% tariffs imposed on billions of dollars of Chinese goods by former President Donald Trump, the spokesman said a decision had yet to be made. was taken. ” We think (…) that the customs tariffs put in place by his predecessor were badly designed. We believe they have increased costs for American families and small businesses, as well as ranchers”he said, referring however to the “China’s harmful trade practices”. Most “I have no decision to announce regarding tariffs from the President. He works there »concluded Mr. Kirby.