US, Chinese officials remain at odds over Taiwan during military talks, days ahead of election
- During Defence Policy Coordination Talks in Washington, Chinese officials urge US to stop arming self-ruled island
- US reaffirms support for its one-China policy at first meeting of its kind since Beijing suspended talks in 2022
China and the United States exchanged contrary views over Taiwan at a defence policy meeting that ended on Tuesday, days before the island’s voters select their next president and lawmakers.
At the Defence Policy Coordination Talks in Washington, Chinese officials urged the US to stop arming Taiwan and oppose its independence, while Pentagon officials said Washington was committed to its one-China policy, which requires the US government to sell arms to Taipei for the island’s self-defence.
Taiwan is a highly sensitive and persistent issue in US-China relations. Beijing sees it as a breakaway province to be reunited with mainland China, by force if necessary.
The US, in common with most other countries, does not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but it opposes any attempt to take the island by force.
