Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the US is luring China into a military conflict over Taiwan, the Financial Times cited a source as saying.
Xi told Von der Leyen that the US was “trying to provoke Beijing by providing weapons to Taiwan,” but he would “not take the bait,” the Financial Times reported yesterday,
The remarks were made during a meeting between Xi and Von der Leyen in April last year, it said.
Photo: Reuters
The report also quoted Center for Strategic and International Studies Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette as saying that Xi might have “created an information vacuum or is otherwise getting poor counsel from subordinates.”
Former Chinese ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai (崔天凱) echoed Xi’s comments in a speech at the Asia Society in January when he said China would “not fall into the trap somebody may be preparing for us,” the report said.
Under the Taiwan Relations Act, Washington has an obligation to provide Taiwan with the defense articles it needs to defend itself, but US President Joe Biden’s administration has long reiterated that it opposes unilateral changes to the “status quo,” the report said.
Nevertheless, Beijing has grown anxious in the past few years over the US’ intentions regarding Taiwan, and Washington has grown concerned about Chinese military activity in the Taiwan Strait.
It is possible that Xi’s remarks were due to subordinates trying to steer him away from more aggressive policies, Blanchette said, adding that “it’s clear that the decisionmaking environment [in Beijing] is being warped.”
Separately, German Marshall Fund Indo-Pacific program managing director Bonnie Glaser said that Xi might be trying to drive a wedge between the US and the EU, particularly on the issue of Taiwan’s defense. However, it is also possible that Xi genuinely believes the US trying to lure China into a conflict, she said.
Von der Leyen would not confirm details about her meeting with Xi, and the White House refused to comment, the report said.
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