When Joe Biden meets Xi Jinping on Monday, Taiwan will be a major topic. After several military demonstrations of force from China recently, the situation has become more tense than it has been in a long time.
On Monday evening in Washington and Tuesday morning in Beijing, the leaders of the two most powerful countries in the world will meet virtually.
The struggle over Taiwan independence escalates after sunshine was one of the main points during the meeting.
China has repeatedly sent a large number of warplanes over the Taiwanese air defense zone, and the rhetoric between the two sides has increased.
According to many commentators, relations between China and Taiwan are now more tense than they have been in decades.
This makes the United States to join the cause that has strategic interests in the region.
discuss Taiwan
The meeting between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden will be their first since Biden took office in January.
Biden was eager to meet him physically, but Xi Jinping had not been outside China’s borders since the outbreak of the epidemic 21 months ago.
Prior to the meeting, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation on Friday.
During the conversation, Anthony Blinken was said to have commented on China’s actions toward Taiwan.
“The Secretary of State affirmed the United States’ long-term interests in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and expressed concern about the continued military, diplomatic and economic pressures that China has put on Taiwan,” the statement said. In a press release From the US State Department after the conversation.
Wang, for his part, is said to have urged the United States to “clearly oppose any move against Taiwan independence,” according to newspaper A. press release from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Any sympathy and support for Taiwan independence supporters undermine peace in the Taiwan Strait and will only lead to setbacks,” the press release quoted Wang as saying.
promises of protection
Senior researcher at NUPI and the University of Bergen, Hans-Jürgen Jasmeyer, says the “One China Agreement” was first concluded between the United States and China in 1972, which in fact is the basis of Taiwan’s international standing today.
It establishes the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China and the implementation of the “One China” principle.
At the same time, this means that Taiwan is not recognized as a separate country in the usual diplomatic sense by the United States, the United Nations and most other countries.
“The United States maintains a strong relationship with Taiwan and is committed to protecting the country from a violent invasion of the island,” Jasmir said, noting that the United States supplies Taiwan with military equipment.
However, the United States remains ambiguous about what it will actually do if Taiwan ends up in a situation where it is under attack.
So, there have been reactions When Joe Biden answered emphatically positive to the question of whether he could promise to protect Taiwan, and what he would do to keep pace with China’s military development.
He replied, “Yes and yes,” adding:
– No need to worry about whether they will be more powerful. China, Russia and the rest of the world realize that we are the most powerful army in the history of the world.
This prompted members of his government to come forward and affirm the “One China Agreement.” still stuck.
I don’t think China will give way
Gosmer sees China’s continued challenge to Taiwan’s airspace in connection with China’s emergence as a great power.
– China is in a geopolitical competition where they want to consolidate their position as a great power. The result, says Jasmeer, is increased competition.
Moreover, this year the Communist Party of China celebrates its centenary. Next year, a new leadership of the party will be elected.
We are in a year or two where China will announce that it is moving forward and at least not going back.
Within the Communist Party, there is widespread agreement that Taiwan should be part of China. He believes that if the demand for independence from Taiwan becomes stronger, China will not waver.
China would certainly be willing to go to war and leave much to be desired to maintain the demand that Taiwan one day become a more effective part of China than it is today.
strategically important area
Both China and the United States have strategic interests in the region in which Taiwan is located.
– It is a very important marine area, and it is also close to both Korea and North Korea. In addition, it is very important for both countries to maintain a position of power in the region, at least militarily, says Gasmir.
For the United States, support for Taiwan is also partly motivated by ideological motives, Jasmir believes.
Taiwan is a liberal democracy, perhaps the most well-functioning liberal democracy in all of Asia. Therefore, it is important for the United States to oppose an aggressive policy associated with a country that represents values other than that.
When Joe Biden and Xi Jinping meet on Monday, there will be tension over a number of topics: trade policy, environment, climate and security policy, among others.
Gåsemyr is very excited about whether there are signs of a less tense relationship between the two superpowers.
– If he does not come, this is a sign that the lines of conflict remain and will increase in scope and intensity, he says.
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