China reiterates that Taiwan is central to its relationship with the United States ahead of an anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week. Beijing says Washington must adhere to the “one China principle” and related U.S.-China commitments to maintain a stable bilateral relationship. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian says the Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and frames compliance with the principle and past communiqués as an international obligation of the United States.
Separately, China has conveyed similar messages through top diplomacy. It has also said it hopes the United States makes the “right choices” regarding Taiwan in discussions involving China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Multiple reports also describe ongoing Chinese military pressure around Taiwan, including frequent deployments of warplanes and naval vessels in the region. China maintains that Taiwan is part of China and has not ruled out the use of force to take it, while the reports focus on the prospect that Taiwan will be a prominent topic when leaders meet.
