Taiwan is working on a one-on-one Biden meeting at the APEC summit. According to a senior Taiwanese official, Taiwan is trying to arrange a one-on-one meeting between the island’s delegate and U.S. President Joe Biden during this week’s APEC conference in San Francisco. However, no message is intended for China.

Beijing has increased military pressure on Taiwan, which is democratically ruled and claims Chinese sovereignty. Taiwan participates in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum under the name “Chinese Taipei” and does not send a president to summits. Over the past 18 months, Beijing has conducted two rounds of significant war games.

Taiwan’s National Security Council chief, Wellington Koo, told reporters in Taipei that the government wanted to meet with Biden and APEC ambassador Morris Chang, the 92-year-old founder of the semiconductor giant TSMC (2330. TW).

When asked if Chang intends to meet with Biden one-on-one during APEC, Koo replied, “The two sides are discussing related arrangements.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The U.S. State Department stated that Biden was looking forward to Taiwan’s participation in the summit but that it had nothing to announce on “specific bilateral meetings” on the sidelines.

According to a senior Taiwanese official with knowledge of the situation, Taiwan had previously asked for a meeting of this kind with the American president during APEC, and the agreement hinged on Biden’s availability.

Like most nations, the United States is Taiwan’s leading foreign supporter and weaponry supplier, even though the two do not have formal diplomatic ties.

When Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet during the summit, tensions over Taiwawill probably arise. Koo noted that Beijing and Washington disagreed on several essential issues, including Taiwan.

“They could talk past each other at the meeting because they are fundamentally divided on core issues,” he added, noting that neither side is likely to compromise on Taiwan. But he said the conference is essential because it would allow Washington to “manage risks” in light of the tensions between the U.S. and China.

One of the few international organizations of which both Taiwan and China are members, President Tsai Ing-w,  stated on Friday that Taiwawouldll emphasizes the significance of regional peace during the summer when their officials interact, even if only briefly, ly or to exchange pleasantries.

Koo responded “no” when asked if Chang had been assigned to welcome Xi and convey a message from Tsai. But he continued, saying, “Everything should happen naturally.”

During the APEC meeting in Bangkok last year, Chan briefly met with Xi and spoke with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on semiconductors. After Tsai took office in 2016, China suspended official discussions with Taiwan because it considered her to be a separatist. Tsai vehemently denounces China’s claims to sovereignty and asserts that only the people of Taiwan can choose the island’s future.