US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping▶ Click here for a larger view
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a video call on the 18th (local time) to discuss issues such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This is the first time the two leaders have spoken since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The West, including the United States, have raised doubts that China, which has expressed its neutrality in the current situation, will actually provide aid to Russia.
“The conversation focused on Russia’s unjustified invasion,” the White House said in a press release following the two leaders’ call ended.
During the one hour and fifty-minute call from 9:03 a.m. to 10:53 a.m. EST, President Biden explained efforts to contain the invasion and plans to respond, including sanctions once morest Russia, the White House said. .
President Biden explained the implications and likely consequences of China’s material aid to Russia, particularly in the midst of Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine, the White House said.
It is interpreted that the US government sent a strong warning message to China seeing that it was making a move to provide economic and military support to Russia.
President Biden also emphasized his support for resolving the situation through diplomatic measures.
The two leaders also agreed on the importance of building communications networks to manage competition between the United States and China, the White House added.
Regarding the Taiwan issue, which is a key conflict between the two countries, President Biden emphasized that the US policy toward Taiwan has not changed and that the US opposes a unilateral change in the status quo.
A senior White House official said in a separate briefing that “President Biden detailed the world’s response to the Russian invasion in his call.”
“I have made it clear that there will be consequences for anyone who helps Russia at this point,” he said.
“I think China will make its own decisions,” the official said.
At the same time, President Biden expressed his firm support for Taiwan, the official added.
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