William Matthews is senior research fellow for China and the world at Chatham House.
In his final meeting with former U.S. President Joe Biden in November last year, Xi Jinping set out Beijing's red lines, emphasizing that China's position on Taiwan "should not be challenged." This came toward the end of a year of increased Chinese pressure on Taiwan, including major military exercises simulating a blockade and rehearsing coordination between the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force as well as the China Coast Guard.
