United States: The talks between US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi were intended to maintain communication, as per their statement. Wang emphasised that the largest threat to Sino-US relations was “Taiwan independence.”
Less than two months after meeting on the fringes of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping got together with Wang and Sullivan on Saturday in Bangkok, Thailand.
China’s foreign ministry released a statement stating that the two “had candid, substantive and fruitful strategic communication on implementing the consensus reach at the San Francisco meeting… and on properly handling important and sensitive issues in China-US relations.”
The meeting between the officials was described by the White House as “part of the effort to maintain open lines of communication” between the two nations.
Furthermore, “Sullivan emphasised that both China and the United States need to prevent it from veering into conflict or confrontation even though they are in competition.”
Prior to this, Beijing and Washington had disagreements over trade, technology, human rights, and Taiwan, which China claims is its territory.
In Taiwan’s most recent election, the Democratic Progressive Party (DDP) won a third term in office. The DPP opposes China’s territorial claims in Taiwan.
Two US lawmakers met with Taiwan’s newly appointed leader, Lai Ching-te, this week to reiterate Washington’s backing for the independent island nation.
Two days after the election, Biden sent an unofficial delegation to congratulate Lai, and this was the second group to arrive in Taiwan since then.
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