'Xi To Tell Biden To Step Back Over Taiwan'

President Xi Jinping is expected to use his first virtual meeting with US President Joe Biden to warn the United States to "step back" on the Taiwan issue, according to Chinese media editorials printed on Monday.

Xi and Biden are scheduled to meet virtually on Tuesday morning Beijing time – Monday evening in Washington – as friction between the countries persist across a range of issues including trade, technology, Xinjiang and especially Taiwan.

An editorial in the English-language China Daily on Monday said that it was likely that Xi would impress upon Biden that Beijing is resolved to "realise national reunification in the foreseeable future no matter the cost".

"The Taiwan question is the ultimate red line of China", the Global Times wrote in its Monday editorial.

"In order to reduce the risk of a strategic collision between China and the US, the latter must take a step back from the Taiwan question and show its restraint," it said.

In a call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Washington against sending the wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces. (Reuters)