Blinken hopes US, China can manage Taiwan differences 'wisely'
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Blinken reiterates that the US "strongly opposes any unilateral efforts" to change the status quo on Taiwan in reference to Pelosi’s visit to the Island.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism on Friday about resolving differences with China over Taiwan, following Beijing's warnings against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's potential visit to the island.
Commenting on a trip by Pelosi, Blinken ramblingly said that President Joe Biden made it clear to his counterpart Xi Jinping in a phone call on Thursday that the US "strongly opposes any unilateral efforts" to change the status quo on Taiwan.
"We have many differences when it comes to Taiwan, but over the past 40-plus years, we have managed those differences and done it in a way that has preserved peace and stability and has allowed the people on Taiwan to flourish," Blinken said, in reference to the period since the US switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
During a joint news conference with his Japanese counterpart, he told reporters that "it would be important as part of our shared responsibility to continue to manage this in a wise way that doesn't create the prospect for conflict and keeping open lines of communication on this issue."
"We believe direct communication between the leaders is the most essential aspect of meeting our responsibilities to manage issues as far as Taiwan in the most responsible way possible," he added.
Earlier today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, on Friday, that Moscow hopes for no provocations against Beijing on the Taiwan issue, urging the US to remain committed to the One China policy.
Beijing's Foreign Ministry has reiterated on numerous occasions that the one-China principle was a political foundation of US-Sino relations, explaining that the US violated its own obligations and has been jeopardizing bilateral cooperation, as well as peace and stability in the region.
US President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping held their fifth phone call, on Thursday, speaking for more than two hours, as concerns over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's possible visit to Taiwan mounted.
During the long phone call, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told US President Joe Biden that “the United States should abide by the 'one China' principle with regard to Taiwan and ensure that its actions are consistent with its words," as per the Chinese state media.
On his part, President Joe Biden told China's Xi Jinping that the US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged and that Washington strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, according to a statement by the White House.
