Joe Biden has affirmed the US’s tough line on China’s human rights abuses and regional expansionism in his first phone call with president Xi Jinping since taking office.
“I spoke today with President Xi to offer good wishes to the Chinese people for lunar new year,” said Biden.
“I also shared concerns about Beijing’s economic practices, human rights abuses, and coercion of Taiwan.
A White House account of the conversation said Biden also raised the crackdown in Hong Kong and human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and China’s “increasingly assertive actions in the region”.
Xi also warned Biden to cautiously handle matters like Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang, which he said were “internal affairs” about China’s territorial integrity.
The Biden administration has pledged to continue giving “rock solid” support for Taiwan, and has predicted “extreme competition” between the two countries.
“The US is deepening ties with Taiwan, a leading democracy and important economic and security partner,” it said on its Twitter account. »
