United States President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a lengthy discussion on Taiwan and issues of mutual concern including climate change and health security. The fifth call between the two leaders lasted for two hours.
The call came as tensions mount between Washington and Beijing as concerns mounted over a possible visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
President Xi emphasized China’s claim over the island according to an outline of the call released by Beijing. “Those who play with fire will perish by it,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “It is hoped that the U.S. will be clear-eyed about this.”
The White House readout of the conversation about Taiwan, saying that Biden “underscored that the United States policy has not changed and that the United States strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
However, Chinese media statement said that the two presidents had a candid communication and exchange on China-U.S. relations and issues of mutual interest. Xi underscored that to approach and define China-U.S. relations in terms of strategic competition and view China as the primary rival and the most serious long-term challenge would be misperceiving China-U.S. relations and misreading China’s development, and would mislead the people of the two countries and the international community.
The White House said the call was a part of the Biden administration’s efforts “to maintain and deepen lines of communication between the United States and the PRC and responsibly manage our differences and work together where our interests align.”
Among the many challenges the two leaders discussed, Xi underscored the need for China and the United States to maintain communication on issues as coordinating macroeconomic policies, keeping global industrial and supply chains stable, and protecting global energy and food security.
