Xi Informs Biden that China and Taiwan Will Reunify, Says NBC News

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently informed President Joe Biden that Beijing intends to reunify Taiwan with mainland China at an undisclosed time, as reported by NBC News.

According to NBC News, citing three current and former U.S. officials, Xi disclosed China’s plans during their meeting in San Francisco on Nov. 15.

The U.S. officials told NBC News that Xi expressed China’s preference for a peaceful reunification with Taiwan, rather than by using force.

One U.S. official stated to NBC News, “His language was no different than what he has always said. He is always tough on Taiwan. He’s always had a tough line.”

About a dozen American and Chinese officials attended the group meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen informed CNBC on Nov. 20 that Biden and Xi remained far apart on the status of Taiwan.

Xi also denied during the meeting that China plans to take Taiwan in 2025 or 2027, stating that no specific timeframe was set, as reported by NBC News.

Chinese officials requested, and were rejected, that Biden make a pre-summit public statement expressing the U.S.’s support for China’s goal of peaceful unification with Taiwan.

As Taiwan prepares for presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 13, China has increased military pressure to assert its claims over Taiwan.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen appealed to voters to remember the situation in Chinese-controlled Hong Kong, expressing a desire for dignified peace rather than a Hong Kong-style peace.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise of wide autonomy under a “one country, two systems” framework, which China has also offered to Taiwan.

Xi stated at last year’s Chinese Communist Party Congress that China would attack Taiwan militarily if it declares independence with foreign support.

Some experts believe that attacking Taiwan if the island does not declare independence is unlikely, as it could hinder mainland China’s economic goal of doubling the size of its economy by 2035.

Reuters contributed to this story.