China to prioritize discussion on Taiwan question, China’s development rights and strategic security during Sullivan’s visit: FM
By Global Times
China-US Graphic: GT
China will focus on raising serious concerns regarding the Taiwan question, addressing development rights and strategic security in discussions with the US during National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan’s upcoming visit to Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
Sullivan will visit China from Tuesday to Thursday.
Sullivan's visit is at the invitation of Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister and member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Saturday.
According to Mao, the two sides will hold a new round of China-US strategic communication.
Wang's meeting with Sullivan in China is a key outcome of the consensus reached between the two heads of state in Bali in November 2022. Since that time, Wang and Sullivan have held three rounds of substantive and constructive strategic communications in Vienna, Malta, and Bangkok, achieving positive results, according to the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of China’s Foreign Ministry, noting both sides have agreed to continue to make good use of this strategic communication channel.
This is also the first visit to China by a US national security chief in eight years, and an important measure to implement the consensus reached by two heads of state at the San Francisco summit last year.
Following the San Francisco summit, diplomatic, economic, law enforcement, climate change and military teams from both countries have maintained communication, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have increased. At the same time, the US continues to contain and suppress China, while China has resolutely counteracted.
China-US relations are still at a critical juncture of stabilizing ties and preventing it from declining, according to the foreign ministry.
Under such context, Wang will have an in-depth exchange of views with Sullivan on China-US relations, sensitive subjects and major international and regional hot topics.
China and the US will jointly review progress on the consensus reached at the San Francisco summit between the two heads of state. Both sides will fully utilize the over 20 established and restored dialogue and communication mechanisms, and continue to address issues related to strategic perceptions and the boundaries between national security and economic activities.
China will focus on expressing serious concerns, clarifying firm positions, and making serious demands regarding Taiwan question, China’s development rights and strategic security.
The Taiwan question is the first and most unbreakable red line in China-US relations, and “Taiwan independence” is the greatest risk to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, the ministry said.
The US must adhere to the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, and fulfill its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence."
The US has consistently imposed unreasonable measures against China, including tariffs, export controls, investment reviews, and unilateral sanctions, which have severely harmed China’s legitimate rights and interests. China demands that the US stop politicizing and securitizing economic and trade issues.
The foundation of China-US relations lies in the people-to-people exchanges, and the US should work in concert with China and take more measures to facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries.
China will also urge the US to fulfill its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and play a constructive role in politically resolving current major and prominent international and regional issues, rather than the opposite.
China's policy toward the US has been consistent, based on the three principles proposed by President Xi Jinping, which are mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. These principles have been distilled from decades of China-US relations and are also lessons drawn from historical conflicts between major powers, representing the direction that both China and the US should work toward. China firmly believes that great power competition cannot address the problems facing the US and the world.
On Russia-Ukraine crisis, the spokesperson said China's position is open and straightforward, and it will continue to promote peace talks, push for political solutions, and engage in mediation diplomacy. The US should stop abusing unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, and halt efforts to smear, slander, and coerce China. China will persist in taking strong and effective measures to protect its core interests and legitimate rights.
The ministry also said China has a historical and legal basis for its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea, and that countries in the region have full confidence, wisdom, and ability to handle the South China Sea issue. Countries outside of the region should not engage in actions that provoke confrontation and escalate tensions.
China is committed to promoting peace and upholding justice in regard to the Middle East issue, supporting all parties in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, especially supporting Palestine in restoring its national legitimate rights. The immediate priority is that all parties to the conflict must effectively implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions and create conditions for achieving a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible. The international community should work together to achieve this goal.
It is hoped that the US will listen to the voices of the majority of the international community and adopt a responsible approach.
In response to the unfounded accusations by the US that China is a threat to the international order, the statement said that China's development is an important part of human progress and is an inevitable trend in history.
China does not follow the old path of Western colonial exploitation, nor does it pursue hegemonic ambitions through power or engage in exporting ideology. China adheres to peaceful development, pursues win-win cooperation, and firmly upholds the international system and international order with the UN at its core. China is a growing force for peace in the world and a stabilizing factor.
Global Times