Biden risks China’s wrath over Taiwan

CHINA has warned Joe Biden he is ‘playing with fire’ after he invited Taiwan to a summit on global democracy – but not the emerging superpower.

Beijing, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory, said it ‘firmly opposed’ the invitation and warned the US President there would be ‘severe implications’.

The conference was a campaign pledge by Mr Biden, who has placed the struggle between democracies and ‘autocratic governments’ at the heart of his foreign policy.

Around 110 countries, including Iraq, Brazil and India, have been invited to the virtual summit on December 9 and 10. However China – along with Russia and Turkey – have been left off the list.

In a stinging editorial, China’s state-run newspaper The Global Times said: ‘Despite the Chinese side warning American politicians not to play with fire on this question, the US indeed has continued to take dangerous steps on the Taiwan question.’

But Taiwan welcomed the invitation, with presidential office spokesman Xavier Chang saying they can share their ‘democratic success story’.