The Chinese and US presidents held a telephone conversation on Thursday. One of the main topics of conversation between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden was the situation in Taiwan.

The Chinese head of state warned Biden not to “play with fire” on Taiwan, with the US president responding that the US position on Taiwan “has not changed” and that the country remains “firmly” opposed to any unilateral efforts to change. the status of that territory.

The US version, for “peace and stability” in Taiwan

Biden’s conversation with Xi Jinping is the fifth since the US president took office in January 2021 and comes at a time when there is talk of a possible visit to the island of Taiwan by the leader of the House of Representatives, the Democrat Nancy Pelosi, in August, a situation that is intensifying tension between the United States and China.

Pelosi has yet to officially announce a trip to Taiwan, a territory Beijing claims as a breakaway province to be forcibly reunified if necessary, but the Chinese government has warned it will respond with “strong measures” if the visit is confirmed.

China does not want Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan and threatens “firm and firm measures” if trip materializes

According to the White House, the US president conveyed to his Chinese counterpart that “the United States firmly opposes unilateral efforts to change status or threaten peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”, which separates China from the island.

According to the US administration, the call lasted more than two hours. Among the topics discussed were, in addition to the situation in Taiwan, the trade disputes that exist between the two countries.

The Chinese version: “Those who play with fire…”

A “sincere and deep” conversation. This is how they describe it average Chinese state-owned companies, who also claim that, during the phone conversation, Xi Jinping warned Joe Biden not to “play with fire” on Taiwan.

Those who play with fire end up getting burned,” the Chinese head of state told his American counterpart, quoted by the official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China).

“I hope the US side understands this perfectly,” he added.

According to the state agency, “the two presidents considered that their telephone conversation was sincere and exhaustive.”