US / China: ‘Honest’ Talks by Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping

The talks were “honest”, according to both Beijing and Washington: China and US national security and diplomacy advisers met at length yesterday on Monday, after several days of counterattacks, especially for Taiwan.

The tone fell sharply at a meeting in Luxembourg last week when the Chinese defense minister warned that Beijing would not hesitate to go to war with Taiwan, while its US counterpart spoke out against the “provocative” “China’s military moves.

Jake Sullivan, a national security adviser to US President Joe Biden, and Yang Jiechi, who plays a similar role in Chinese President Xi Jinping, did not, however, announce any compromises on the key points, especially with regard to China considers an integral part of it, a breakaway province destined to be reunited one day with the mainland, by force if necessary.

“The issue of Taiwan’s touches on the political foundations of Sino-US relations and, if not handled properly, will have a detrimental effect,” Yang was quoted as saying by China State News Agency. “crises” and “illusions” on this issue.

Mr Biden’s adviser, for his part, reiterated “our long-standing commitment to a united China, as well as our position and our concern about Beijing’s coercive and aggressive actions in the Taiwan Strait,” according to a statement. White House Press.

Tensions around Taiwan have not stopped rising in recent months, mainly due to the proliferation of Chinese Air Force aircraft breaches in the island’s air defense recognition zone (ADIZ).

The US president also recently appeared to undo the delicate diplomatic balance chosen by Washington, assuring that the US would defend Taiwan militarily if the Chinese army invaded, before the White House assured that the US has changed.

“Maintaining communication channels”

Mr. Sullivan reaffirmed to his interlocutor that this policy of “strategic ambiguity” continues, in which Washington diplomatically recognizes communist China, but at the same time militarily supports Taiwan.

The meeting of Messrs. Sullivan and Young, who spoke by telephone on May 18, lasted 4.5 hours, according to a senior US government official.

The relationship between Beijing and Washington has deteriorated in recent years, with the two major powers clashing in many areas – in international trade, in human rights and again this year, over the war in Ukraine.

In a statement, the White House referred to “honest” and “productive” discussions, during which Mr Sullivan “emphasized the importance of maintaining open channels of communication”.

New China also described the conversation as “sincere, in-depth and constructive”.

Mr Yang said the dialogue should continue, but made it clear that Beijing did not intend to move what it saw as red lines.

“For some time now (…) the American side has been insisting on restricting and pushing back China” on the world chessboard, he stressed, according to New China, but Beijing refuses to define the bilateral relationship as a “competitive” one.

Mr. Yang, according to the agency, outlined the Chinese government’s positions “on Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, the South China Sea, human rights and religion.”

In all these matters, China, the target of international criticism, has reiterated that it will not tolerate any interference in its internal affairs.

The United States and its Western allies often warn Beijing against its claims in the South China Sea. China is in disputes over sovereignty over parts of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Sino-US relations have been in turmoil since the days of former US President Donald Trump, who launched a trade war in retaliation for what he called Beijing’s abusive economic practices. Mr Biden has said he may lift some of the tariffs to reduce the galloping inflation in his country in an election year.