With a China-US presidential meeting approaching, there has been reported speculation that the Taiwan question will top Beijing's agenda for the summit.

Asked to comment last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said abiding by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and honoring the commitments made by US administrations on the Taiwan question is the US's due international obligation and the prerequisite for a steady, sound and sustainable China-US relationship.

CGTN breaks down what the US government has committed to the Chinese government on the Taiwan question in these historic agreements.

1. The Shanghai Communique (February 28, 1972)

The context:

It was issued during US President Richard Nixon's historic ice-breaking visit to China.

The US commitment:

The US side declared: The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position.

It reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves.

With this prospect in mind, it affirms the ultimate objective of the withdrawal of all US forces and military installations from Taiwan.

In the meantime, it will progressively reduce its forces and military installations on Taiwan as the tension in the area diminishes.

2. The Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations (December 16, 1978)

The context:

It was issued days before the People's Republic of China and the United States of America officially established diplomatic relations on January 1, 1979.

The US commitment:

The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.

The Government of the United States of America acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China, and Taiwan is part of China.

3. The August 17 Communique (August 17, 1982)

The context:

It was issued to address US arms sales to Taiwan.

The US commitment:

The United States Government attaches great importance to its relations with China, and reiterates that it has no intention of infringing on Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, or interfering in China's internal affairs, or pursuing a policy of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan."

The United States Government understands and appreciates the Chinese policy of striving for a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan question as indicated in China's Message to Compatriots in Taiwan issued on January 1, 1979, and the Nine-Point Proposal put forward by China on September 30, 1981. The new situation, which has emerged with regard to the Taiwan question, also provides favorable conditions for the settlement of United States-China differences over United States arms sales to Taiwan.

Having in mind the foregoing statements of both sides, the United States Government states that it does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and that it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution.  In so stating, the United States acknowledges China's consistent position regarding the thorough settlement of this issue.

In order to bring about, over a period of time, a final settlement of the question of United States arms sales to Taiwan, which is an issue rooted in history, the two Governments will make every effort to adopt measures and create conditions conducive to the thorough settlement of this issue.

Why these documents matter still so much today

All based on the one-China principle, the three joint communiques constitute the political foundation for China-US relations.

In them, the US recognized that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China. It also recognized China's position that there is only one China, and Taiwan is part of China. And on this basis, the US met the three preconditions put forward by China, namely severing so-called diplomatic relations, abrogating the mutual defense treaty with the Taiwan authorities, and withdrawing US military forces from Taiwan.

This made it possible for China and the US, countries with different social systems and ideologies and at different stages of development, to engage in dialogue and cooperation, and achieve important outcomes that have benefited both sides and the world at large.

Beijing has repeatedly stressed that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests, and the bedrock of the political foundation of China-US relations. It has urged the US side to return to the provisions of the three joint communiques and strictly abide by the one-China principle.