President Biden told reporters Tuesday evening that he discussed Taiwan with China's President Xi Jinping in their phone call last month.
Why it matters: Beijing's growing aggression toward Taipei is drawing fresh concerns of a war in the region. Asked by a reporter Tuesday for comment on the provocation, Biden said he had "spoken with Xi about Taiwan," per a pool report. "We agree, we will abide by the Taiwan agreement," Biden said.
Between the lines: That's an apparent reference to a longstanding diplomatic understanding that the U.S. recognizes Beijing as the "sole legal government of China," without clarifying the United States' position on Taiwan's sovereignty, Bloomberg notes.
- The Chinese government sent a record 145 warplanes into the self-governing island's air defense zone during a four-day period this month.
The bottom line: "We made it clear that I don't think he should be doing anything other than abiding by the agreement," Biden said.
Meanwhile, a delegation of French senators arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday for a five-day visit, during which they will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen.
- Chinese government officials had urged the lawmakers to cancel the visit, AP notes.
The big picture: Taiwan separated from China in 1949 amid the Chinese Civil War and Beijing regards Taipei as a breakaway province.
- Taiwan's defense minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, told Parliament on Wednesday that the current crisis "is the most severe in the 40 years since I’ve enlisted," per AP.
Go deeper: Jake Sullivan to meet top Chinese diplomat as Taiwan tensions soar
Editor's note: This article has been updated with details of the senators' visit, Chiu's comment and further context.
