Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued a strong warning to the US, setting a red line against supporting Taiwan’s independence.

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Lima, Peru. This will be the official last time that Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping meets Biden before the transfer of power takes place. The Chinese administration has declared that they are ready to work with the new administration of Donald Trump as he will take over as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025.

Anticipated Policy Shifts Under Trump Administration
With Trump taking over power, several key changes are expected to occur over the course of the next 4 years. As he took over power, he promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours. He has campaigned all over the states promising to implement his policy of ‘America First’. With this, he has promised to wage off the maximum taxes levied on American citizens. As part of “America First” trade measures, Trump has pledged to impose blanket 60% tariffs on Chinese goods imported into the United States.

Focus of Biden-Xi Discussions at APEC
Biden and Jinping’s focus on the meeting of APEC addressed a number of sensitive issues including Taiwan, the economy, Ukraine, and fentanyl production. The leaders also struck an understanding that artificial intelligence will never be used to replace human control over nuclear weapons. Both Xi and Biden have acknowledged that the perspectives of the US and China have not been on the same page on various issues but they have come up with resolutions in these matters. But with Trump taking the presidential oath this would be dicey and interesting to witness.

Trump Appoints Key Officials for Aggressive China Policy
Trump has picked hawks Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor, showing that he is prepared to take an aggressive position with Beijing. During the first term of Donald Trump, he repeatedly called out China as another “strategic competitor”. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the former president labeled Covid a “Chinese virus,” which strained relations.

Taiwan Likely to Be a Major Flashpoint in Second Term
The prominent issue that might arise in Trump’s second term could be Taiwan. China regards democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory. Despite the lack of formal diplomatic recognition, the United States remains Taiwan’s major overseas backer and weaponry supplier. Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims. Xi has called on the United States to recognize the separatist nature of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and to refrain from meddling in the South China Sea.

Xi Congratulates Trump, Calls for Stable US-China Relations
Xi congratulated Trump on his election win earlier this month, saying that their two countries must “get along with each other in the new era”, in a statement. “A stable, healthy, and sustainable China-US relationship is in the common interest of both countries and is in line with the expectations of the international community,” Xi said.