Xi Jinping opened up ties with Taiwan to Donald Trump, in an unexpected phone call, the first between the two presidents since a trade ceasefire agreement in late October. Amid a bitter crisis between Beijing and Tokyo over Taipei, the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong “outlined China’s principled position on the Taiwan issue” with the tycoon and stressed that the island’s “return” to China is an integral part of the post-war international order.
With careful use of words, in the report of the talks released in the evening by Beijing diplomacy, Xi reminded that “China and the United States once fought side by side against fascism and militarism (in Japan, ed.). In light of what is happening, it is even more important for us to jointly protect the victory of the Second World War.”
The US, again in Mandarin, “understands the importance of the Taiwan issue for China”, said the tycoon, who did not immediately comment.
Xi’s apparent reference to the ongoing clash between China and the Rising Sun emerged from controversial comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi who stated, in a parliamentary session on November 7, that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo. The recent deployment of medium-range surface-to-air missiles on Japan’s Yonaguni Island, 110 km from Taiwan, was a “deliberate attempt to create regional tensions and provoke a military clash”, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning, speaking of a “very dangerous development” that risked triggering a “military clash”.
In contrast, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi defined the ongoing operation as capable of “effectively reducing the possibility of an armed attack against our country”. The People’s Republic of China, although never controlling it, aims to reunify Taiwan even by force, if necessary: the Potsdam and Cairo declarations form the basis of its legal claims, although many governments consider them merely declarations of intent, not legally binding.
Beijing “wants to see how willing the Trump administration is to offer real support to Japan” and is also “trying to warn other democracies about the consequences of similar statements on Taiwan,” said William Yang, senior analyst at CrisisGroup.
Not only that: Beijing’s report on the talks included openings about a Xi-Trump “positive meeting” in late October in Busan, on the sidelines of APEC in South Korea, which “calibrated the course and gave momentum to the continued progress of bilateral relations.”
Thanks to the trade ceasefire, relations have stabilized, and both sides “should maintain this momentum, follow the right direction, maintain an attitude of equality, respect and mutual benefit.”
In short, a message when Washington and Beijing have not yet signed an agreement on rare earths, minerals essential for high-tech production of which China boasts 80% of its production on a global scale. Although Trump’s true position on Taiwan remains to be clarified: Xi’s stance is an invitation to reveal what is really going on.
Reproduction protected by law © Copyright ANSA
