China's ambassador to the United States is drawing a hard line on Taiwan just as the two countries' leaders prepare to sit down face to face. The ambassador said Taiwan and human rights are red lines for China that cannot be crossed, a warning issued days before Xi Jinping is set to meet Donald Trump in Washington this week.
According to Reuters, the ambassador warned that Taiwan and human rights are red lines for China.
Arms Sales Remain a Flashpoint
Weapons sales to Taiwan sit at the center of the dispute. According to AP News, Trump said in May that a new U.S. arms package for Taiwan worth around $14 billion was being held in abeyance, and he described it at the time as a very good negotiating chip.
A senior Taiwan security official said Beijing views delays in U.S. arms transfers as a direct way to slow the island's military buildup, per the same Reuters account.
Rising Military Activity in the Region
Beyond the diplomatic sparring, the report describes increased Chinese vessel activity around Taiwan, as noted by Reuters.
The ambassador's red-line language lands with weight heading into the Trump-Xi meeting.
