WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping may celebrate their fifth term as leaders as soon as Thursday as concerns grow over a possible visit to Taiwan, claimed by the China, by the Speaker of the United States House, Nancy Pelosi.
White House officials have said the long-planned call will have a broad agenda, including discussion of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which China has not yet condemned.
At its core, US officials see the exchange as another opportunity to manage competition between the world’s two largest economies, whose ties are increasingly clouded by tensions over democratically-ruled Taiwan, which Xi has promised to meet with the mainland, by force if necessary.
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Beijing has issued mounting warnings about repercussions if Pelosi visits Taiwan, a move that would be a dramatic, if not unprecedented, show of U.S. support for the island, which it says faces increasing military threats and Chinese economy.
Washington has no official relations with Taiwan and follows a “one China” policy that recognizes Beijing, not Taipei diplomatically. But US law requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself, and pressure has mounted in Congress for more explicit support.
“It’s about keeping the lines of communication open with the president of China, one of the most consequential bilateral relationships that we have, not only in this region but around the world, because it touches a lot,” the security spokesman said national of the White House. John Kirby told reporters Wednesday.
A person briefed on the planning of the call said the Biden administration thinks engagement between leaders is the best way to reduce tensions over Taiwan.
Xi is keen to avoid a tense confrontation with the United States as he seeks an unprecedented third term at a congress of China’s ruling Communist Party, expected in October or November, some analysts believe.
Biden also wants to discuss climate and economic competition issues, the person briefed said, as well as the idea of putting a price cap on Russian oil to punish Moscow for its war in Ukraine, an issue that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen , he raised with his Chinese counterparts earlier. july Read more
The Biden administration has been debating whether to lift some tariffs on Chinese goods as a way to ease rising inflation, but US officials have said a decision was not expected before the call. Read more
When Biden last spoke to Xi in March, he warned of “consequences” if Beijing provided material support for Russia’s war, and the US government believes that red line has not been crossed in the months since. .
A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry declined to confirm the call would take place or share details when asked during a regular briefing in Beijing on Thursday.
“The Chinese and US heads of state maintain communication through various means,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.
“China will announce information on this in a timely manner,” he said.
TOXIC BONDS
The White House has reiterated that its “one China” policy has not changed despite speculation about a possible trip by Pelosi, which the speaker has yet to confirm.
The last time a speaker of the US House of Representatives visited Taiwan was in 1997, and as a co-equal branch of government, the US executive has little control over congressional travel.
China has grown more powerful militarily and economically since then, and some analysts fear the visit at a time of strained ties could spark a crisis in the 100-mile (160 km) Taiwan Strait waterway width that separates China and Taiwan.
“The relationship is in such a toxic state. Mutual distrust is really at an all-time high. I think people don’t realize how dangerous this particular moment is,” said Bonnie Glaser, a China expert at the Marshall Fund. German from the United States.
He said Biden and Xi should focus their call for de-escalation, including possible mechanisms to reduce the risk of accidents.
Kirby said the administration has reached out to Pelosi’s office to make sure she has “all the context” she needs to make decisions about her trip.
China has given few hints about the specific responses it might need if Pelosi, a longtime critic of China, particularly on human rights issues, goes to Taiwan.
Martin Chorzempa, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said playing up the Taiwan issue could serve Xi as a domestic distraction from China’s slowing economy, but “any reaction strong enough to to trigger US sanctions would create massive damage to China and the global economy.”
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Reporting by Michael Martina, Trevor Hunnicutt and David Brunnstrom; additional reporting by Martin Quin Pollard in Beijing. Editing by Heather Timmons, Richard Pullin and Raju Gopalakrishnan
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