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Taiwan rift remains despite Xi-Biden call for closer contact
- Beijing and Washington offer different takes on discussion about the island on Friday
- A report that Washington may agree to use ‘Taiwan’ in the name of Taipei’s representative office injected further uncertainty
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Beijing and Washington may have resolved to maintain communication but Friday’s phone call between the US and Chinese leaders has not narrowed differences over Taiwan, diplomatic observers said.
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While the call between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden was an attempt to reduce tensions, their statements on Taiwan afterwards were a contrast.
Beijing said Biden expressed no intention of changing the US’ adherence to the one-China policy, which effectively precludes Washington from supporting a formal declaration of independence from Taipei.
But Washington did not mention Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province, or the one-China policy.
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Why has the relationship between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan taken a turn for the worse?
Why has the relationship between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan taken a turn for the worse?
Adding further uncertainty on this front, the Financial Times reported on Friday the Biden administration is “seriously considering” a request from Taiwanese officials to change the name of the self-ruled island’s mission in Washington from “Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office” (Tecro) to “Taiwan Representative Office”.
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