Biden-Xi talks: China warns US about 'playing with fire' on Taiwan-Update
Chinese President Xi Jinping has used a virtual summit with
US counterpart Joe Biden to warn that encouraging Taiwanese independence would
be "playing with fire".
The talks are the most substantial since Mr Biden took
office in January.
Both sides emphasised the two men's personal relationship
and the summit was an attempt to ease tensions.
But they could not escape one of the most sensitive topics:
the self-ruled island of Taiwan.
China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province to be reunified with the mainland one day.
The US recognises and has formal ties with China. But it has
also pledged to help Taiwan defend itself in the event of an attack.
China's state-run Global Times said Mr Xi blamed recent
tensions on "repeated attempts by the Taiwan authorities to look for US
support for their independence agenda as well as the intention of some
Americans to use Taiwan to contain China".
"Such moves are extremely dangerous, just like playing
with fire. Whoever plays with fire will get burnt," it said.
The White House said Mr Biden "strongly opposes
unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability
across the Taiwan Strait".
Despite the strong words on Taiwan, the meeting began with
both leaders greeting each other warmly, with Mr Xi saying he was happy to see
his "old friend" Mr Biden.
Mr Biden said the two had "always communicated with one
another very honestly and candidly," adding "we never walk away
wondering what the other man is thinking".
Mr Xi said the two countries needed to improve
"communication" and face challenges "together".
"Humanity lives in a global village, and we face
multiple challenges together. China and the US need to increase communication
and co-operation." said Mr Xi.
What else was discussed?
The world's two most powerful nations do not see eye-to-eye
on a number of issues, and Mr Biden raised US concerns about human rights
abuses in Hong Kong and against Uyghurs in the north-west region of Xinjiang.
China accuses the US of meddling in its domestic affairs.
On trade, Mr Biden highlighted the "need to protect
American workers and industries from the PRC's [People's Republic of China's]
unfair trade and economic practices".
Mr Xi also appeared to have made a strong comment on the
issue, with Reuters reporting that he had told Mr Biden that the US needed to
stop "abusing the concept of national security to oppress Chinese companies".
Climate change was also discussed. Last week the two sprung
a surprise by issuing a joint declaration to address climate change, at talks
in Glasgow, Scotland.
This was the third time the two leaders have spoken since Mr
Biden's inauguration in January. The talks lasted three-and-a-half hours,
longer than expected.
Mr Xi has not left China in nearly two years, since the
outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The China-US relationship is crucial to both parties and the wider world, with Beijing having called repeatedly on the new administration in Washington to improve relations which deteriorated under Mr Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump.
Both men are facing domestic concerns, with Mr Biden's poll
numbers slumping in the face of inflation, the threat of coronavirus and the
chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Mr Xi is tackling energy shortages and a
property crisis.
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