In April 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping said to the head of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, that the United States had provoked China to attack Taiwan. This is claimed by the newspaper Financial Times with reference to its sources.
According to their information, the President of the People's Republic of China in April 2023, at a meeting with the head of the EC, said that Washington had deceived him, trying to force Beijing to attack the island, but the Chinese leader did not catch on "the bait" USA.
According to one of the sources, Xi Jinping has expressed the same warnings to Chinese officials.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington, in response to an inquiry by the newspaper, did not comment on the information about the Chinese leader's statement, but noted that the United States had sold weapons to Taiwan and supported “separatist forces” on the island. A representative for Ursula von der Leyen said the EC leader does not disclose information about personal meetings. The White House had no comment.
Taiwan has been governed by its own administration since 1949, but according to the official position held by most countries, it is considered one of China's provinces. Washington severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979 and established diplomatic relations with the PRC. Recognizing the "one China" policy, the United States continues to maintain contacts with the Taipei administration and supplies the island with weapons.