Taiwan Issue Is 'First Red Line' That Must Not Be Crossed: Xi 習:台灣問題是中美關係第一條不可逾越紅線

Following a conciliatory meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, P.R.C. President Xi Jinping said both sides agree the Taiwan issue is a red line that cannot be crossed. Biden, meanwhile, said the U.S. opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo.

P.R.C. President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden met in person for the first time at the G20 summit in Bali. According to a P.R.C. press release issued after the meeting, Xi told Biden the Taiwan issue is the first red line that cannot be crossed, and while China wants to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan independence are mutually exclusive. Biden held a press conference after the meeting.

Joe Biden, US President: “Our one-China policy has not changed. Has not changed. We oppose unilateral change in the status quo by either side and we're committed to maintaining the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait. And I do not think there's any imminent attempt on the part of China to invade Taiwan.”

Biden said there doesn't have to be a new Cold War, and both sides are clear on where the other side stands. Xi, meanwhile, said the current state of relations between the two sides does not benefit the fundamental interests of either side or meet the expectations of the international community.

Xi Jinping, PRC President: “I am willing to sit down with President (Biden), as we have in the past, to discuss strategic issues in Sino-U.S. relations and major global and regional issues.”

Xi and Biden agreed that the diplomatic teams of both their countries would engage in strategic dialogue and remain in regular contact to promote a return to stable bilateral relations. Biden also said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken would be making a trip to Beijing soon.

美國總統拜登小跑步趨前，與中國國家主席習近平一握。這是習近平自中共二十大結束後首次出訪，也是拜登就任美國總統後，兩人首次面對面會談。結束後，根據中國央視發布的新聞稿，習近平表示，台灣問題是中美關係第1條不可逾越的紅線，希望看到並始終致力於保持台海的和平穩定，但台獨同台海和平穩定水火不容。拜登召開記者會重申美國的立場。

美國總統拜登表示：「我們的一個中國政策沒有改變、沒有改變。我們反對任何一方單方面改變現狀，我們致力維護台海和平穩定。我不認為中國方面，有任何入侵台灣的迫切企圖。」

對於美中關係，拜登表示相信不需要有一場新的冷戰，美國與習近平多次會面，彼此之間坦誠相對，完全清楚。習近平則強調雙方目前面臨的局面，不符合彼此人民根本利益，也不符合國際社會期待。

中國國家主席習近平說：「我願同總統先生，就中美關係的戰略性問題，及重大的全球和地區問題，一如既往的、坦誠深入的交換看法。」

兩國元首同意，雙方外交團隊保持戰略溝通，保持經常性聯繫，推動中美關係重返穩定發展軌道。拜登表示，將指派美國國務卿布林肯，近期前往北京進行後磋商。