President Addresses Taiwan Independence After Meeting With Chinese President

Why it matters locally: As the nation's capital and seat of federal government, District of Columbia may see increased diplomatic activity and policy developments stemming from U.S.-China relations, potentially affecting federal agencies and international affairs operations based in the District.

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The U.S. president addressed the issue of Taiwan's potential declaration of independence following a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping. The U.S. president stated a desire for Beijing and Taipei to "cool down" existing tensions. The comments occurred after discussions regarding the self-governing island.