US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan disclosed that the US and China collaboratively worked to mitigate risks during the recent Taiwan elections. Sullivan’s revelation came during a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, shedding light on the efforts to avoid cross-strait incidents.
This diplomatic achievement followed a tense period marked by heightened expectations of strained relations, especially after Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit in August 2022. The collaboration aimed to reduce miscommunications and misunderstandings among Washington, Beijing, and Taipei, contributing to a peaceful election process.
Taiwan’s president-elect Lai Ching-te had earlier expressed concerns over China’s intense interference tactics, including military threats and misinformation. However, Chinese diplomat Liu Jianchao’s visit to Washington and subsequent meeting with US principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer suggested a more measured approach by Beijing.
Sullivan emphasised the US’s neutral stance in the Taiwan elections and reiterated its commitment to the “One China” policy, while not taking a definitive position on sovereignty issues. He also highlighted the importance of leader-to-leader dialogues in managing US-China relations, referencing the November 2023 summit between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Looking ahead, Sullivan spoke of the US’s intention to avoid rehashing past mechanisms for US-China dialogue, instead focusing on specific working-level consultations. He mentioned the recent launch of a US-China counter-narcotics group and hinted at future collaborations in areas like crisis communication, climate change, health security, and the challenges of artificial intelligence.
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