During an official visit to Beijing, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington does not support the cause of Taiwan’s independence.
US Comments
According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Blinken said that the Biden administration “does not support “Taiwan independence”, and it does not seek conflict with China.”
“I reiterated the longstanding US one China policy. That policy has not changed. It’s guided by the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the three Joint Communiqués, the Six Assurances,” Blinken said.
“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,” he added.
The US diplomat insisted that Washington remains committed to meeting its responsibilities under the TRA, “including making sure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself.”
BREAKING: Secretary of State Anthony Blinken gives China the green light to invade Taiwan during his visit to Beijing, China.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 19, 2023
"We do not support Taiwan independence."
What a pivot from Biden’s previous comments from just months ago. What happened?
"Yes, if in fact, there was… pic.twitter.com/gyAp8TPxrW
“The US side looks forward to having high-level engagement with the Chinese side, keeping open lines of communication, responsibly managing differences, and pursuing dialogue, exchanges and cooperation,” he stated.
Blinken asserted that the US “does not seek a new Cold War” or “to change China’s system”and reasserted that the US' “alliances are not directed at China.”
He also stressed that the two superpowers have “an obligation and responsibility to manage [their] relationship” and that the US “is committed to doing that.”
Chinese Comments
Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the two countries’ “interactions should always be based on mutual respect and sincerity.”
“The Chinese side has made our decision clear, and the two sides have agreed to follow through the common understandings President Biden and I had reached in Bali,” Xi told reporters.
“The two sides have also made progress and reached agreement on some specific issues. This is very good,” he added.
Xi also expressed hope that Blinken’s visit will help Washington “make more positive contributions to stabilising” ties.