U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, locked horns over China’s approach to Taiwan during a phone call on Nov. 12, just three days before the leaders of the two nations hold a virtual meeting.
“He urged Beijing to engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve cross-Strait issues peacefully and in a manner consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people on Taiwan.”
China’s foreign ministry issued a strongly worded statement about the phone call. It stated that Wang took a “solemn position” over what China deemed “wrong words and deeds” expressed by the United States.
According to the Chinese statement, Wang also told Blinken that the United States should “clearly and resolutely oppose any ‘Taiwan independence’ moves,” claiming that doing so would “safeguard peace” in the region.
Taiwan, formally known as the Republic of China, is a de facto independent country with its own democratically elected government, military, constitution, and currency.
Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, in an interview with the BBC in 2020, made forthright comments about Taiwan’s sovereignty, saying there was no need to declare Taiwan an independent state, since “we are an independent country already and we call ourselves the Republic of China.”
Washington, currently a diplomatic ally of Beijing but not Taipei, has provided military equipment to Taiwan for its self-defense.
Additionally, the United States holds a “one-China policy,” which asserts that there is only one sovereign state with the name “China,” although that’s different than the “one-China principle” under which the Chinese regime asserts sovereignty over Taiwan.
A day after Wang and Blinken talked, the Chinese regime openly demanded the United States accept the “one-China principle.” China’s ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, issued the demand while speaking remotely during a meeting held by the U.S.-based organization Alliance for China’s Peaceful Reunification.
Qin also blamed the United States for the rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
The two leaders have spoken on the phone twice this year, but have yet met in person since Biden took office in January.
“The Secretary also stressed the importance of taking measures to ensure global energy supply and price volatility do not imperil global economic recovery,” Price stated.
The Chinese statement also stated that Blinken and Wang discussed climate change and Iran’s nuclear issues.
On Nov. 14, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked Blinken in a Twitter post for “expressing concern regarding China’s continued military, diplomatic & economic pressure against” the island.