China says Xi Jinping will discuss ‘sensitive issue of Taiwan’ with Barack Obama during US trip

Beijing has stepped up rhetoric against independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, which is tipped to beat island's ruling, mainland-friendly Kuomintang in January's election

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US President Barack Obama (left) and President Xi Jinping are likely to discuss the 'Taiwan issue ... the most important, most sensitive issue in Sino-US relations' next week, says Beijing official Ma Xiaoguang. Photo: AP

Published: 1:45pm, 16 Sep 2015Updated: 6:51pm, 16 Sep 2015

President Xi Jinping will raise the sensitive issue of Taiwan in his talks with US President Barack Obama next week – ahead of a crucial presidential election in the self-ruled island in January, China’s government said on Wednesday.

The Taiwan issue is the most important, most sensitive issue in Sino-US relations

Ma Xiaoguang, Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman

Taiwan’s mainland-friendly ruling Kuomintang Party are expected to be thrashed by the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) opposition in the election. Beijing has been stepping up its rhetoric against the DPP as the vote nears.

Kuomintang forces retreated to Taiwan in 1949 after a civil war with the Communists and Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

“The Taiwan issue is the most important, most sensitive issue in Sino-US relations,” Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular briefing after being asked if Taiwan would feature on the Xi-Obama agenda.

“We believe that, when the leaders of China and the United States meet, they will exchange views on important issues of mutual concern,” Ma said, without elaborating.

The US severed formal ties with Taiwan in 1979, but is obligated by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and arms sales always deeply anger Beijing.

Beijing was also alarmed in June when Tsai Ing-wen, the DPP’s presidential candidate, visited Washington to rally support from US officials and politicians.