TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Security Bureau (NSB) Director-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) on Monday (Nov. 18) accused China of misrepresenting an APEC meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) on Saturday (Nov. 16) as a possible form of propaganda.
On Sunday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated Xi stressed to Biden that if the US wishes to ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait, "It is crucial that it sees clearly the true nature of Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities in seeking ‘Taiwan independence’."
Xi reportedly added that the US must be extra prudent in dealing with the “Taiwan question” and demonstrate it “unequivocally opposes ‘Taiwan independence’, and supports China's peaceful reunification." However, in the White House readout of the meeting, there is no mention of Lai, Taiwan's independence, or reunification.
According to the readout, Biden emphasized that the US “one China” policy is unchanged based on the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. Biden also called for “an end to destabilizing PRC military activity around Taiwan.”
Before a Legislative Yuan session on Monday, Tsai told the media that the NSB had compared China's statement with the White House press release and reviewed past statements by Chinese leaders in international forums, per CNA. He said it is rare for Chinese leaders to name Taiwan’s leadership in such discussions, and he could not exclude the possibility that this is a case of China's foreign ministry or media using “propaganda or cognitive warfare tactics.”
Tsai explained that a similar situation had occurred in Xi’s meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Chinese media had claimed that Singapore adhered to the "One China" policy and “opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence’,” but after verification by Singapore's foreign ministry, the country denied making such statements.