China should abandon its threats and military pressure against Taiwan and talk to the island's leaders. This was stated by Raymond Green, de facto ambassador and head of the American Institute in Taiwan, quoted by "Reuters".
Commenting on the visit of the Taiwanese opposition leader to China, Green stressed that the United States expects Beijing "to maintain open channels of communication with all political parties in Taiwan, especially with the leaders elected by the Taiwanese people, to avoid misunderstandings and stabilize relations between the two countries".
"In addition, we expect China to abandon threats against Taiwan or military pressure. I believe this would help ease tensions between the two sides," he added.
He said that while the US supports dialogue, it cannot replace deterrence. "I don't think there is a conflict here, because if there is sufficient deterrence capacity, it will lead to a more equal dialogue," the US ambassador explained.
He explained that "there are three ways to resolve differences between the two sides of the Strait: the first is dialogue, the second is coercion, and the third is war." So if Taiwan can have sufficient deterrence capacity, it can take the option of war off the agenda.
China views Taiwan as its territory, but the Taiwanese government rejects Beijing's claims to sovereignty.
Beijing refuses to talk to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, whom China has labeled a "separatist", but Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Chen Li-yu, chairman of Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, during a "peace mission to China," as she described her visit.
The Chinese military operates daily around Taiwan. Taiwan's opposition, which has a majority in parliament, has blocked the government's military spending plans, including a $40 billion additional special defense budget that has provisions for purchasing American weapons and which Washington has supported.
Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations, the United States is Taiwan's most important arms supplier and international supporter.