‘Taiwan belongs to China,’ Beijing tells US as officials plan Xi-Biden talks

China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, met with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss potential new talks between Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden.

During the meeting, Wang reiterated China’s longstanding position that “Taiwan belongs to China” and that the pursuit of Taiwanese independence threatens regional peace and stability. He also called on the US to “stop arming Taiwan and support peaceful reunification of China.”

The meet took place amidst ongoing disagreements between the two superpowers and the upcoming 2024 US presidential election.

As per a report by news agency Reuters, both sides agreed to organise video calls between their military theater commanders responsible for hot spots in the Indo-Pacific region “at an appropriate time,” as stated in the Chinese readout from the meetings. The move aims to prevent conflict in areas like the Taiwan Strait, with the White House indicating that these talks would occur in the “near future.”

“The key to the smooth development of China-US interaction lies in treating each other as equals,” Wang told Sullivan, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The White House described the discussions as “candid, substantive, and constructive” on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. The talks, which are set to continue until Thursday, are expected to address various contentious areas, including trade, the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and Chinese territorial claims from Taiwan to the South China Sea.

The White House statement also said both sides would keep lines of communication open, including planning for a “leader-level call” in the coming weeks.

The Chinese readout also noted Beijing’s disapproval of US tariffs on manufactured goods and export controls on Chinese chip makers, with Wang urging Washington to “stop jeopardising China’s legitimate interests.”

Despite the tensions, a US statement highlighted potential areas of agreement, noting “shared concerns about (North Korea), Burma, and the Middle East.” Additionally, it was announced that Biden’s climate adviser, John Podesta, would soon travel to China for further discussions.

Sullivan and Wang Yi have met four times over the past 16 months, in Vienna, Malta, Washington, and Bangkok. Their most recent meeting in January followed a high-stakes summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden, aimed at easing strained relations. The talks held this week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, underscore that China remains a key focus for the Biden administration, even as President Biden approaches the end of his term.