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The United States has publicly walked back its support for Taiwan during a meeting with the People’s Republic of China.
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US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken met with PRC President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 19 June.
Secretary Blinken confirmed the US does not support Taiwan independence, has longstanding support of the US “One China” policy, and is against any unilateral changes to the status quo by either side.
“I raised US concerns, shared by a growing number of countries, about the PRC’s provocative actions in the Taiwan Strait, as well as in the South and East China Seas,” he said.
“On Taiwan, I reiterated the longstanding US “One China” policy. That policy has not changed. It’s guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiqués, the Six Assurances.
“We do not support Taiwan independence. We remain opposed to any unilateral changes to the status quo by either side. We continue to expect the peaceful resolution of cross-strait differences.
“We remain committed to meeting our responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act, including making sure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself.
“Were there to be a crisis over Taiwan, the likelihood is that that would produce an economic crisis that could affect quite literally the entire world. Fifty per cent of commercial container traffic goes through the Taiwan Strait every day. Seventy per cent of semiconductors are manufactured on Taiwan.
“If, as a result of a crisis that was taken offline, it would have dramatic consequences for virtually every country around the world. I also made that very clear.”
The United States maintains an unofficial relationship and does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Secretary Blinken said the United States does not seek a new Cold War, does not seek to change China's system, its alliances are not directed at China, it does not support Taiwan independence and it does not seek conflict with China.
“The relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (is) one of the most consequential in the world,” he said.
“Both the United States and China have an obligation to manage this relationship responsibly. Doing so serves the best interests of the United States, of China, indeed, of the world.
“I came to Beijing to strengthen high-level challenges of communication, to make clear our positions and intentions in areas of disagreement, and to explore areas where we might work together when our interests align on shared transnational challenges.
“I stressed that direct engagement and sustained communication at senior levels is the best way to responsibly manage our differences and ensure that competition does not veer into conflict. And I heard the same from my Chinese counterparts. We both agree on the need to stabilise our relationship.”
“I would expect additional visits by senior US officials to China over the coming weeks and we welcome further visits by Chinese officials to the United States.”
During the meeting, US and PRC representatives also discussed the Ukraine War, North Korea, trade policies, human rights, food security, the illegal drugs crisis in the US and economic policies. The US Secretary of State also met with leadership from US businesses operating in China.
US Senator and Republican Party member Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee was quick to call out the diplomatic exchange as an “appeasing” the PRC leadership.
“Blinken flew to Communist China to appease Xi Jinping and state the Biden administration does not support Taiwan’s independence,” she said.
