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China and U.S. to abide by Taiwan agreement
US President Joe Biden has confirmed he and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to abide by the “Taiwan agreement”
The President of the United States appeared to be referring to America’s longstanding “one China” policy, where it recognises China rather than Taiwan.
But – the agreement further allows the United States to maintain a “robust unofficial” relationship with Tawian.
The announcement follows escalating tensions between Taiwan and Beijing
Beijing has sent “record numbers” of military jets into Taiwan’s air defence zone for four consecutive days.
Reports suggest the military action could be done as a way warning Taiwan’s president ahead of the island’s national day.
Taiwan has its own constitution, military, and democratically elected leaders, and considers itself a sovereign state
Beijing however, views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out the possible use of force to achieve unification with the island.
The “One China” policy, which both President Biden and President Xi are believed to have referred to, is a key cornerstone of Sino-US relations.
The policy however is distinct from the One China principle, whereby China insists Taiwan is an inalienable part of one China to be reunified one day.
“I’ve spoken with Xi about Taiwan. We agree we’ll abide by the Taiwan agreement,”
– President Biden.
“We made it clear that I don’t think he should be doing anything other than abiding by the agreement.
– President Biden
On Wednesday, Taiwan’s defence minister confirmed that military tensions with China were at its worst in more than 40 years.
The minister stated that the communist nation has the capability of mounting a “full-scale” invasion of Taiwan by 2025.
“By 2025, China will bring the cost and attrition to its lowest. It has the capacity now, but it will not start a war easily, having to take many other things into consideration,”
Taiwan’s defence minister said.
Analysts watching China closely have previously warned that Beijing is becoming increasingly concerned that Taiwan’s government is moving the island towards a formal declaration of independence and wants to deter its President Tsai Ing-wen from taking any steps in that direction.
The latest warning comes even as a Taiwanese parliamentary committee undertakes a review of a special military spending budget of T$240bn ($8.6bn; £6.32bn) over the next few years that will mostly go towards naval weapons used by Taiwan forces.
The US has continued to sell weapons to Taiwan as part of Washington’s Taiwan Relations Act, which states that the United States must assist Taiwan defend itself.
