Taiwan is expected to top the agenda when US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet next week – their first in-person encounter since Mr Biden took office in 2020.
The much-awaited meeting comes at a time when relations between the two superpowers have particularly soured.
Given the recent spike in tensions and rhetoric, the world – and America’s Asian allies such India, Japan and Australia – will be closely watching the meeting scheduled to take place on Monday in Bali ahead of the G20 Summit.
Mr Xi has spent most of the pandemic in China and only recently began travelling overseas again.
Biden said at a press conference after the White House confirmed the meeting that he is sure they will discuss Taiwan.
Beijing sees the self-governing island as its own territory that must be united with the mainland but Taiwan sees itself as distinct.
Mr Biden, unlike previous US presidents, has repeatedly said the US would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.
