TAIPEI (TVBS News) — John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, reiterated on Wednesday (Nov. 15) that the U.S. maintains its policy of not supporting Taiwan's independence and desire to avoid any form of conflict over the island.
As U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks on the same day, Kirby emphasized that the U.S. does not want to see a unilateral change in Taiwan's status quo, and certainly not by force.
He added his hopes that Biden will continue to express to Chinese President Xi Jinping that the U.S. will follow the Taiwan Relations Act and other related principles and documents, assisting Taiwan in maintaining its self-defense ability.
The talks marked Biden and Xi's second face-to-face meeting since last November in Indonesia.
A senior U.S. official revealed that Biden would use this opportunity to express to Xi the U.S.'s concerns about China's non-interference in Taiwanese elections. The official did not provide further information about the coming discussions between Biden and Xi.
It remains unclear whether Biden will meet with Taiwanese APEC representative Morris Chang at the summit.