MOSCOW, June 16 Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting with the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in April 2023, he accused the United States of trying to provoke a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the Financial Times newspaper writes, citing sources.
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“Chinese President Xi Jinping told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that Washington was trying to encourage Beijing to attack Taiwan,” the article says.
According to one Of the publication’s interlocutors, Xi Jinping emphasized that he “didn’t fall for the hook.” Another source added that the PRC leader warned his officials about such US actions.
Beijing does not recognize the sovereignty of Taiwan, considers it its province and insists that the “one China policy” be followed throughout the world. It implies that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory, and the PRC authorities are the only legitimate Chinese government. The United States formally adheres to this principle, but in reality it not only actively contacts the island, but also regularly supplies weapons there.
The situation around Taiwan escalated significantly in August 2022, after the then Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, visited the island. China condemned this visit, seeing in it support for Taiwanese separatism, and conducted large-scale military exercises.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has repeatedly called the Taiwan issue the most sensitive in relations with Washington.