China signals Taiwan priority again ahead of President Trump-Xi meeting

China again signaled that Taiwan would be a priority topic ahead of a highly anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week, saying that the US must adhere to the “one China principle” for a stable relationship with Beijing. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has not excluded the use of force to take it. Beijing has been ramping up its military pressure by sending warplanes and naval vessels around the island almost daily.  “The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Thursday. “Abiding by the One China principle and the three China-US joint communiques and honouring the commitments made by US administrations on the Taiwan question, is the due international obligation of the United States and the prerequisite for a steady, sound, and sustainable China-US relationship,” he added.