The conversation occurred during a summit held in San Francisco last month, in a group meeting attended by U.S. and Chinese officials, according to the current and former officials who spoke with NBC News. Xi reportedly told Biden China’s preference would be a peaceful reunification with Taiwan, though Xi said his government has not yet set an exact timeframe. Chinese officials also asked prior to the meeting that Biden issue a public statement after the meeting stating that the U.S. opposes Taiwan’s independence and supports China’s goal of Taiwan reunification, which the White House rejected. “I’m not gonna get into the specifics of the discussion between the two leaders,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “I think you can understand I’m not gonna read out that private conversation,” Kirby added. “President Xi has been public and clear about his desires for reunification — that’s not something that’s different or new.” Following the disclosure of the interaction between the two leaders, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) issued a statement calling the report “beyond unnerving.” “To communist China, if you think you can bully your way into destroying world order without consequences, you will be making Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine look wise,” he stated. “Apparently China sees weakness when it comes to the United States. I can say unequivocally when it comes to communist China, both parties are united in standing up to this anti-democratic regime,” Graham added. “This statement by Chinese Communist Party dictator boss Xi proves the old saying, weakness anywhere provokes aggression everywhere.” Over the years, Xi has been consistent in his vision of seeing China reunify with Taiwan, pledging two years ago to take it by force, if necessary. Taiwan, by contrast, maintains that it will not allow China to dictate its future while stressing that Taiwan will remain independent. “The Taiwanese people have already clearly rejected it," the country’s Mainland Affairs Council said.During a recent meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Joe Biden face-to-face that Beijing would re-take Taiwan, according to four U.S. officials.
