Taiwan Thanks Biden For His Support During Xi Call

Taiwan's government expressed its thanks to and "admiration" for US President Joe Biden on Thursday after he told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping of his concerns about Beijing's pressure against Taipei.

Biden's government, which took office on January 20, has moved to reassure democratic Taiwan that its commitment to them is "rock solid", especially after the PLA stepped up its military activity near Taiwan shortly after Biden's inauguration.

Biden, in his call with Xi, underscored his "fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair practices, its crackdown in Hong Kong, reported human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan", according to the White House.

Taiwan's Presidential Office thanked Biden for the comments.

"We express our admiration and gratitude for President Biden's concern about the security of the Taiwan Strait and human rights issues," spokesman Xavier Chang said in a statement.

"As a member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to work closely with like-minded countries, including the United States, to jointly contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region."

Beijing regularly describes Taiwan as the most important and sensitive issue in it relationship with the United States, and was infuriated by stepped-up contacts between the two and increased arms sales under former President Donald Trump's administration.

Taiwan has been heartened by the renewed pledges of support from Biden's team.

On Wednesday, Taiwan and the United States held their first publicly acknowledged formal meeting in Washington under the new administration.

Taiwan's defacto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, met Sung Kim, acting US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. (Reuters)