China and the United States with mutual caution about Taiwan

Ahead of the eagerly awaited video summit between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, both sides warned of a confrontation with Taiwan. In an interview with US Secretary of State Wang Yi, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said yesterday (local time) that he “expressed his concern about the continuing military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan by the People’s Republic of China.” Wang warned Washington against actions that would appear to support “Taiwan’s independence.”

According to the US State Department, Blinken and Wang spoke in preparation for the video summit. The US envoy called on Beijing to engage in a constructive dialogue to resolve the Taiwan issue “peacefully and in accordance with the wishes and interests of the Taiwanese people.”

According to a statement issued by Beijing, Wang warned the United States not to interfere in the conflict: “Any tolerance and support for the Taiwan independence movement will undermine the peace on Formosa Street, which will ultimately prove to be a boomerang.”