WASHINGTON, July 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tensions over Taiwan, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are likely topics for a call expected this week between US President Joe Biden and China’s leader Xi Jinping, the White House said.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that managing economic competition between the two countries would also be a focus of the call, which Biden said on Monday is expected later this week.
It will be the fifth call between the leaders, and comes as China has delivered heightened warnings to the Biden administration about a possible visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to democratically governed Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.
“Everything from the tensions over Taiwan, to the war in Ukraine, as well as how we better manage competition between our two nations, certainly in the economic sphere,” Kirby said of the topics to be discussed.
“This is a call that has been scheduled for a long time and there’s already a pretty robust agenda of things for these two leaders to talk about,” he said.
Under its one-China policy, the United States does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but is bound by US law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. The White House has been quick to reiterate that stance has not changed despite speculation over a possible trip by Pelosi.
Kirby said that Pelosi is in the line of succession to the presidency and as such, her overseas travel was a matter of US national security. But only she could make decisions about her travel.
A trip by Pelosi would be the first by a House speaker since 1997, and China has said it is prepared to take strong measures in response.
“Bellicosity” in rhetoric from Beijing over the potential trip only escalates tensions, he said.
“We find that unhelpful and certainly not in the least bit necessary given the situation,” he said.
The administration has been debating whether to lift some tariffs on Chinese goods as a way to boost the US economy, but Kirby said a decision was not expected ahead of the call.
Biden could head into the call with momentum if the US Congress passes legislation to provide about US$52 billion in subsidies for the US semiconductor industry, as well as an investment tax credit for chip plants estimated to be worth US$24 billion, which Biden has urged as crucial for competing with China economically.
The Senate is expected to vote on final passage in coming days and the US House could follow suit as soon as later this week.
Earlier on Tuesday, senior US officials accused China of increased “provocations” against rival territorial claimants in the South China Sea and said “aggressive and irresponsible behavior” by Chinese ships and aircraft meant it was only a matter of time before a major incident or accident. — NNN-AGENCIES
