China's President Xi pressed Biden to alter language on Taiwan
Chinese President Xi Jinping asked US President Joe Biden last year to change the language the United States uses when discussing its position on Taiwanese independence, according to two US officials familiar with the private conversation.
During their meeting last November near San Francisco, Xi and his advisors asked Biden's team to alter US official statements to say that the United States 'opposes Taiwan independence,' rather than the current wording that it 'does not support' Taiwan’s independence, according to sources familiar with the diplomatic exchange.
Since that meeting, Xi’s team has reportedly followed up with similar requests on several occasions. However, the US has declined to make the change. In response to an inquiry, the White House reaffirmed that Washington’s position remains unchanged, emphasizing that the Biden administration continues to uphold the longstanding One China policy and does not support Taiwanese independence.
China’s foreign ministry, when asked about the matter, advised directing the question to the US government, reiterating China’s firm stance on Taiwan. Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined to comment.
Taiwan, formally known as the Republic of China, has maintained self-governance since 1949 after the Chinese civil war led to the ROC government retreating to the island. Taiwan’s government asserts it is a sovereign, independent state, with no intention of changing its formal status or recognizing Beijing’s claims over it.
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