By Business Insider
It’s another two months before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office, but China is already setting boundaries between the two countries.
On Saturday, China’s leader, Xi Jinping, outlined his “four red lines” in US-China ties at a meeting with US President Joe Biden.
The four hot-button issues are Taiwan, democracy and human rights, China’s path and system, and the country’s rights to development.
“They must not be challenged,” Xi said, according to a statement published after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru.
“These are the most important guardrails and safety nets for China-US relations,” Xi said.
Of the four, Taiwan is the most sensitive issue between the two countries, as Xi has repeatedly said over the years.
Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has said recently that it will never commit to renouncing the use of force over the island. The area is strategically important to the US as a leader in semiconductor production and a key security hub.
But Trump’s presidency is already raising risks for Taiwan.
In June, Trump told Bloomberg Businessweek that Taiwan should pay the US for defense.
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Xi’s comments came amid concerns that the world’s two largest economies are set to head into conflict after Trump takes office on January 20.
The incoming American president has already nominated Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a China hawk, as secretary of state. Trump has also threatened to hit China with tariffs of 60%.
