Joe Biden and Xi Jinping answer the phone for the first time in four months

When the clock struck 8:33 in Washington and 20:33 in Beijing this Thursday, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping they picked up the phone for a long-awaited conversationthe first in four months, with a pebble backdrop.

A renewed tension on Taiwan in the wake of a possible trip by Nancy Pelosi to the island, it alerted Beijing and unnerved the Pentagon.

The White House signaled the start of the phone call and, as usual in these cases, a statement was expected at the end with its content.

It concerns fifth telephone switchboard of the two leaders since Biden arrived at the White House in January 2021.

The appeal attracted particular attention due to the tensions between the two powers due to the war in Ukraine, in which China supports RussiaUS duties on Chinese products and, above all, the possible trip to Taiwan by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Pelosi announced her plans to go to Taiwan in April, but had to suspend her trip due to the covid-19 negotiation; and now, according to some US media, is making preparations to visit the island this summereven though his office hasn’t made any official announcements yet.

In response, the Chinese government warned him will respond with “strong measures” if Pelosi visits Taiwan, in what would be the first visit by a US House Speaker to Taiwan since 1997, when Newt Gingrich visited the island.

Taiwan is one of the main reasons for the conflict between China and the United Statesmainly due to the fact that Washington is Taiwan’s main arms supplier and would be its greatest military ally in the event of a possible war with China.

In 1979, after breaking diplomatic relations with Taipei and establishing them with Beijing, the United States adopted it Taiwan’s Relationship Act, in which he engaged in the defense of the island and in the supply of war equipment.

Other topics on the agenda

In addition to Taiwan, both leaders are expected to address a wide range of bilateral and international issues.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby anticipated that the emphasis would be on China’s security issues and territorial claims.

The two leaders will discuss the South China Sea, a region in which they are estimated to exist 11 billion barrels of oil and that the Asian giant is in dispute with Taiwan, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.

The other big problem will be the economy as well duties on Chinese goods imposed by former President Donald Trump (2017-2021).

“He (Biden) wants to make sure that all lines of communication with President Xi are kept open on all matters, even if there are problems,” said Kirby, who defended the importance of both leaders. they can call each other by phone speak in a “naive” and “direct” way.

The White House had been setting expectations for weeks on a phone call between Biden and Xi.

EFE

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