Trump, Xi to Meet in Beijing Amid Taiwan Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14 and 15, with Taiwan expected to feature prominently in discussions amid heightened military tensions around the self-governed island.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian emphasized Thursday that the Taiwan issue represents a core interest and the foundation of bilateral relations. He urged the United States to adhere to the One China principle and the three joint communiques, calling it a prerequisite for stable ties. China, which views Taiwan as its territory, has intensified military activities, dispatching warplanes and naval vessels near the island almost daily. Top diplomat Wang Yi told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week that he hopes Washington will make the right choices on the matter.

From the U.S. side, Rubio stated at a White House briefing that Taiwan routinely arises in high-level talks. "I think both countries understand that it is in neither one of our interests to see anything destabilizing happen in that part of the world," he said. Rubio added that neither side seeks escalatory developments in the Taiwan Strait or Indo-Pacific region. The summit...