State Department – President Joe Biden met Friday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi within the White House, a gathering that was anticipated to result in a sit-down with Chinese President Xi Jinping subsequent month.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan had been additionally current, in accordance with administration spokesman John Kirby.
Biden “emphasized that both the United States and China need to manage competition in the relationship responsibly and maintain open lines of communication,” and he “underscored that the United States and China must work together to address global challenges.”
Wang, China’s high diplomat, arrived in Washington on Thursday for conferences with senior U.S. officers on bilateral and regional safety points, forward of a attainable assembly between U.S. and Chinese leaders subsequent month.
Blinken hosted Wang on the State Department for a working dinner after conferences earlier within the day. White House nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan held talks with him Friday at Blair House close to the White House.
Just earlier than his two-hour assembly with Blinken on Thursday afternoon, Wang advised reporters that ‘China and the United States have to have dialogue’ that is ‘in-depth and complete’ in order that they’ll cut back misunderstanding and ‘return to the observe of wholesome, secure and sustainable growth.’
‘In China-U.S. relations, sometimes there will probably be some jarring voices,’ he stated, including ‘what is correct and what’s mistaken isn’t decided by who has the strongest arm or a loud voice.’
His remarks got here a day after Biden stated that China’s international infrastructure push, referred to as the Belt and Road Initiative, has left its companions ‘useless within the noose.’
Blinken met with President Xi in Beijing for 35 minutes on June 19 throughout a visit to stabilize fraught bilateral ties.
“This meeting is consistent with commitments by both sides to maintain this strategic channel of communication as part of ongoing efforts to responsibly manage the relationship,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated in an announcement.
Senior officers from the Biden administration have previewed a variety of points, together with Israel’s battle with Hamas, Russia’s battle on Ukraine, the fentanyl disaster, Taiwan, and a current vessel collision within the South China Sea.
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Meanwhile, congressional critics have urged China to launch wrongfully detained American residents and have condemned Chinese navy habits within the South China Sea.
“During its meetings with Wang Yi, the Biden administration should not fall for false promises but demand deliverables such as releasing Americans taken hostage in China, stopping the export of fentanyl precursors and halting its military expansionism in the Indo-Pacific,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and Indo-Pacific subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim stated in an announcement.
Roger Carstens, particular presidential envoy for hostage affairs, is among the many U.S. officers attending a gathering with Wang in a smaller setting.
Thursday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller advised VOA that U.S. officers assembly with Chinese officers would proceed to boost issues in regards to the destiny of Americans wrongfully detained by China.
“I can assure you that we were working behind the scenes to try to secure their release as soon as possible,” Miller stated throughout a briefing.
The Dui Hua Foundation, a San Francisco humanitarian group that advocates for the discharge of political and spiritual prisoners, advised VOA final July that it estimated as much as 200 Americans had been being arbitrarily detained in China, and that as many as 30 had been topic to illegal exit bans.
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Taiwan
The United States has cautioned China towards a navy escalation within the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese navy has been intensifying actions round Taiwan for months main into the self-ruled democracy’s presidential election in January 2024.
Foxconn, the New Taipei City-based Fortune 500 firm recognized for making Apple iPhones, just lately underwent inspections of its mainland amenities by Chinese tax authorities.
The probe comes at a delicate time, as a result of Foxconn founder Terry Gou is searching for the presidency in Taiwan’s election as an impartial candidate. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has by no means dominated Taiwan however claims sovereignty over the self-ruled democracy.
Many analysts see China’s probe as an try and pressure Gou out of the elections for concern that he’ll drain votes away from pro-Beijing candidates with a greater likelihood of profitable.
“We have deep confidence in Taiwan’s democratic process and believe it is for Taiwan voters to decide their next leader, free from outside interference,” Miller advised reporters Thursday.
Washington has stated it doesn’t take sides in Taiwan’s elections and is dedicated to the truthful therapy of all candidates. U.S. coverage on Taiwan “will remain the same, regardless of whichever party is in power,” Miller stated.
This week, U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher advised VOA Mandarin that “the most important topic” for Biden administration officers to convey up in its talks with Wang “is cross-strait deterrence.’
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“We have to ship a powerful message [to the CCP] that the rising aggression towards Taiwan won’t be tolerated. We will assist Taiwan defend itself,” said Gallagher, a Republican who chairs the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the CCP.
Chinese troubles
“China is having their very own inner and exterior difficulties proper now,” Biden said Wednesday during a press conference with visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “China’s financial development is stagnant in comparison with what it was. China has engaged in actions [of] intimidation” when dealing with other countries.
Biden also reiterated Washington’s support for the Philippines following a recent incident in which Chinese ships blocked and collided with two Philippine vessels near Second Thomas Shoal in the contested South China Sea.
“Just this previous week, the PRC vessels acted dangerously and unlawfully as our Philippine associates carried out a routine resupply mission inside their very own unique financial zone within the South China Sea,” Biden said, using an initialism for the People’s Republic of China.
“The United States’ protection dedication to the Philippines is ironclad,” he said, adding that the U.S. is “not searching for a battle” with China.
China asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, a resource-rich waterway with competing territorial claims from several other countries.
Middle East
Blinken has called on China to use its influence over Iran to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spreading but the U.S. expectation is said to be low amid key divisions with China. Washington said Tehran continues to support Hamas militants, who do not support a two-state solution.
“Hamas doesn’t symbolize the overwhelming majority of the Palestinian individuals within the Gaza Strip or wherever else,” Biden said during the press conference. “Hamas is hiding behind Palestinian civilians.”
The United States, Israel, Egypt, the European Union, Japan and others have designated Hamas a terrorist organization.
China, like Russia, does not classify Hamas as a terrorist group but regards it as a legitimate representative of the Palestinians in Gaza.
China’s Hamas Stance: Key Divide Ahead of Top Diplomat’s Washington Visit
Earlier this week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the Beijing government hoped the U.S. would work with China to “correctly handle variations and collectively convey the bilateral relations again to the observe of sound and regular growth.”
As Israel prepares a ground incursion into Gaza, Wang told Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen that “all nations have the correct to self-defense, however you will need to observe worldwide humanitarian regulation and defend civilians,” throughout a telephone name on Monday.
Sullivan held talks with Wang in Malta September 16-17 following their conferences in Vienna May 10-11. The White House stated they mentioned points together with Russia’s battle in Ukraine and likewise famous the significance of peace and stability throughout the Taiwan Strait.
On Thursday on the State Department, Wang didn’t reply a query by VOA when requested if China is keen to make use of its affect to steer Iran from widening the battle.
Yihua Lee from VOA Mandarin contributed to this report.