November 16, 2023
United States President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in San Francisco on November 15. During the meeting, President Biden reiterated that the United States opposed any unilateral changes to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait from either side. He said the United States expected cross-strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means and stressed that the world had an interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He also called for restraint in China’s use of military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) appreciates and welcomes that President Biden has again publicly underlined the United States’ firm position on the maintenance of cross-strait peace and stability through a meeting with the Chinese leader.
Since assuming office, the Biden administration has emphasized its rock-solid security commitment to Taiwan on multiple occasions and expressed its unwavering support for Taiwan through concrete actions. The high level of international consensus on the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait has been demonstrated in joint statements issued at several international meetings this year, including the US-Australia leaders’ meeting, the US-Japan-ROK leaders’ summit, the Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ summit, and the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to actively enhance its self-defense capabilities and deepen its security partnership with the United States. It will also closely cooperate with like-minded countries to jointly preserve peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait; ensure a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific; and safeguard the rules-based international order.