Editorial | Fate of US-China ties rests on how Biden handles Pelosi trip
- American president must heed warning of counterpart Xi Jinping over rumoured visit by top official to Taiwan at a time when both countries should be cooperating for mutual benefit and to resolve global challenges
There was every reason; tensions have been rising despite American assurances of adherence to the one-China principle and a rumoured visit of House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi threatens to upend ties.
The Chinese leader understandably gave what was perhaps the strongest-ever warning to Washington that “those who play with fire will perish by it”.
He was amplifying a position that China has red lines that can never be crossed. The American leader said his country’s one-China policy would not change and the US did not support Taiwanese independence.
But rhetoric and actions have revealed otherwise, the latest being the sailing of a US aircraft carrier group towards the self-ruled island.
The US has recently increased weapons sales to Taiwan, boosted military patrols in the region and given diplomatic backing to the island on several occasions through visits by officials.