Xi Jinping claimed the US wants China to attack Taiwan, FT reports
Xi Jinping claimed the US wants China to attack Taiwan, FT reports
British daily Financial Times claims Xi issued the warning in meeting with Ursula von der Leyen in April 2023
Original article behind paywall
British daily Financial Times claims Xi issued the warning in meeting with Ursula von der Leyen in April 2023.
China's President Xi Jinping told European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen that Washington was trying to “goad Beijing into attacking Taiwan,” the Financial Times said on Saturday.
In a report based on information from people familiar with the matter, the British daily said Xi issued the warning in a meeting with von der Leyen in April 2023. She paid an official visit to China last year which coincided with the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to the newspaper, Xi said the US was trying to trick China into invading Taiwan, but that he would not take the bait.
The revelation comes as tensions are high across the Taiwan Strait. China responded to last month's inauguration of Lai Ching-te as Taiwan's new president with military drills around the island, which it claims as its own. Taipei, however, insists on its independence since 1949.
Xi's remarks are probably the first known case of him making the claim to a foreign leader.
The Chinese leader also said that a conflict with the US would undermine his goal of achieving a “great rejuvenation” by 2049.
US officials have, in recent years, increased engagement with Taiwan but the administration says it remains committed to its longstanding one-China policy.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this month, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun said the country's military was ready to “forcefully” stop Taiwan's independence.
Earlier, the Foreign Ministry said those supporting independence for Taiwan would find themselves “crushed.”
Oh, so it's the "Stop making me start this war, U.S.!" autocratic abuse strategy.
So many of these autocratic hellholes are using the same methods at a national and international scale as domestic abusers.
This is starting to resemble Putin's rhetoric against NATO since he invaded Ukraine
Xi Jinping is smart. China didn't take the bait, but it was hard to resist the urge. The people of China ached as they realised they were tricked, but their glorious leader had them covered. The real, Xi Jinping-approved plan came later. /s
I wouldn't doubt it. I'm sure those military guys are just salivating at the thought of getting into another war and spinning up the military industrial complex to print more money.
Got any more baseless conspiracy theories for us? The only party in this conflict that wants another war is China.
Love watching two brains infected with different strains of jingoism face off
How do you think the US tried to make China invade?
I think it's a bafflingly absurd claim. And I'm surprised some people wouldn't doubt it.
How does this fit into China invading and harassing other ships in international waters near Taiwan? Or China punishing Taiwans independent election results by doing military maneuvers around Taiwan, clearly showing force and threatening. And the constant reiterations of considering Taiwan as part of China. Integration of Taiwan is a clear and repeatedly voiced goal. Their willingness to use force was shown repeatedly; in Tibet, Hong Kong, and against minorities in their own established lands.
I don't see how with such a discrepancy believing the Chinese claims makes any sense. It's smoke and trying to influence and irritate the western nations and their alliances. Similar playbook to Russia.
a “great rejuvenation” by 2049.
Few things, other than raising children take 25 years. Is China hoping for a baby boom?
China isn't ready for any random event that might happen today, like for example another epidemic, given the baffling show of incompetence that was Xi's and his government's reaction to COVID-19.
Given how they are also messing up the relatively new three-child policy and the economic challenges the country is currently experiencing, one does not have to worry about any baby boom any time soon.
I think 2049 is the 100th anniversary of the current PRC, so a reasonable target for ceremonial goals.
No different than saying an American leader said he wanted a Mars landing for the tricentennial in 2076. It's good symbolism, not necessarily a technical merric.