China on Tuesday again warned that Taiwan remains a “red line” in its ties with the United States, just a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to travel to Washington for a summit with US President Donald Trump.
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Jinping → warn → Trump
Beijing's warning came as the two leaders prepare to discuss a relationship marked by tensions over Taiwan, trade and security.
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leaders → come → Taiwan
Xi is scheduled to meet Trump on Thursday during his three-day visit to Washington.
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Xi → schedule → Washington
Beijing has described the summit, coming less than six months after their previous meeting, as a "milestone of historic significance".
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Beijing → describe → significance
Ahead of Xi's visit, Chinese state media People's Daily put Taiwan at the centre of the US-China relationship.
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media → put → relationship
A front-page article described Taiwan as a "red line” for Beijing and called it a guardrail and safety net for China-US relations, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.
“Managing ‘Taiwan independence’ is a key part of building constructive strategic stability between China and the US,” the article said, describing pro-independence forces as a “common enemy” of Beijing and Washington.
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article → describe → Beijing
"The US side must handle the Taiwan question with the utmost caution and take concrete action to safeguard the stable development of China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” it warned.
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it → handle → Strait
Xi is widely expected to raise Beijing's opposition to a proposed US arms package worth about USD 11 billion for Taiwan.
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Xi → expect → Taiwan
Trump has yet to approve the package.
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Trump → have → package
China is also expected to press Washington to scale back its support for Taipei.
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China → expect → Taipei
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to achieve integration with the island.
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Beijing → claim → island
It also opposes countries with which it has diplomatic relations maintaining formal ties with Taipei.
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it → oppose → Taipei
China is also watching Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's meeting with Trump in New York on Tuesday.
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China → watch → Tuesday
Takaichi is expected to stress the strength of the US-Japan alliance and the need to maintain a strong position on Taiwan, Japanese officials said.
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officials → expect → Taiwan
Her meeting with Trump comes as Tokyo seeks to coordinate with Washington on China ahead of Xi's visit.
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Tokyo → come → visit
Japanese officials said Takaichi would also emphasise the need to strengthen deterrence against what Tokyo describes as Chinese military and economic coercion, the Japan Times reported.
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Times → say → coercion
Relations between China and Japan have remained tense since November last year, when Takaichi said in parliament that a Taiwan contingency could become a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan and potentially lead to action by its defence forces in support of the US.
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contingency → remain → US
Her remarks angered Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory.
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Taiwan → anger → territory
Beijing signals focus on stability
Ahead of Xi's visit, Chaoyang Shaoxia, a social-media channel widely believed to be affiliated with China's foreign ministry, said the trip was aimed at “keeping the positive momentum going”.
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momentum → signal → ministry
The Chinese foreign ministry, its embassies and ambassadors also posted videos in Chinese and English saying that “from Beijing to Washington DC, the China-US relationship must stay on course towards constructive strategic stability”.
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relationship → post → stability
Asked about the posts, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday, “China is ready to work with the US to enrich the China-US constructive relationship of strategic stability, enhance dialogue and cooperation, and properly manage differences to contribute to the well-being of both peoples and to a peaceful, stable and prosperous world”.
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China → ask → world
Fentanyl curbs
China also announced tighter controls on the export of chemicals that can be diverted into the production of fentanyl, addressing another long-standing US demand.
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that → announce → demand
Chinese anti-narcotics authorities warned companies and individuals to prevent medetomidine and tartaric acid from being diverted into narcotics production.
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authorities → warn → production
The China national narcotics control commission said the move was part of intensified efforts to stop chemicals with potential uses in illegal drug production from reaching illicit channels, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
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agency → say → channels
Trump has repeatedly pressed Beijing to curb the supply of chemicals and equipment used to manufacture fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid linked to the widespread drug addiction crisis in the US.
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Trump → press → US
The Aporia
