Tensions have soared between the two most powerful economies on the planet, particularly over the small island nation, whose territory China claims as its own. Last month, Beijing carried out a record number of air strikes near Taiwan, which was condemned by Washington and further raised tension between the powers.
“We will make sure that Taiwan has the means to defend itself,” Blinken said threateningly at an event organized by The New York Times. However, the official refused to go beyond the traditional US ambiguity about whether to defend Taiwan militarily from an invasion, the AFP news agency reported.
He added that providing Taiwan with “means to defend itself” amounted to “the best deterrent against any very, very, very unfortunate action that China can contemplate.” The Taiwan Relations Act, passed by Congress in 1979, mandates that the United States provide weapons to Taipei for its self-defense.
Blinken and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, stood firm on Taiwan in recent talks in Rome on the sidelines of the Group of 20. Biden had hoped to meet Xi at that event, but the Chinese leader has not traveled since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and instead agreed to virtual conversations before the end of the year.
China said it had reached an understanding with the United States at the Glasgow summit on climate change, a key area in which the Biden administration sees potential for cooperation. Xi also voiced a conciliatory tone in a letter read by China’s ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, during a gala dinner in New York last night.
Biden has largely maintained the tough focus on China of his predecessor Donald Trump, with whom he agrees that the rise of the Asian giant is the main challenge of the 21st century. But the veteran leader, who as vice president of Barack Obama met several times with Xi, indicated at the same time that he will assume a more diplomatic tone and will coordinate his policy towards China with his Western allies.
Source From: Ambito
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