Xi says Taiwan remains 'the most important' in China-U.S. relations, stresses will realize reunification someday

Stressing that the Taiwan question remains "the most important and most sensitive issue" in China-U.S. relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping once again urged Washington to honor its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence" and stop arming Taiwan while meeting with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on Wednesday. 

"China will realize reunification, and this is unstoppable," Xi made clear.

Xi's highly-anticipated meeting with Biden lasted more than four hours and took place at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, California, which is approximately 40 km south of San Francisco, California. The Chinese president arrived in San Francisco on Tuesday afternoon local time, where he is also attending the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting.

Read more:

Full text: President Xi's remarks when meeting with U.S. President Biden

The Taiwan question has remained top on the agenda of China-U.S. talks. Beijing has reiterated that the island is a part of China, and that issues related to the island are internal affairs that bear no external interference, while denouncing Washington's multiple rounds of attempts to seek connections with Taiwan, including sending high-level officials for visits and approvals of billion dollar-worth of arms sales.

The Chinese defense ministry has warned that the country's armed forces will put forth necessary forces if needed. "The People's Liberation Army will resolutely defeat anyone attempting to separate Taiwan from China and safeguard national unity at all costs," the ministry said on their official website on the matter.

In a press conference following his meeting with Xi, Biden reaffirmed commitment to the one-China principle. 

"I reiterated what I've said since I have become president, and what every previous president of late has said: That we maintain an agreement that there is One China policy," Biden told the press, adding "that's not going to change."

The U.S. president also said that he hopes China will not interfere in Taiwan's upcoming elections as the island is set to have its leadership election late January.

(Cover: File photo of the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan. /Xinhua)