US & China agree to communicate amidst competition
The leading US diplomat told his Chinese counterpart that the two countries must keep communication channels open, the US State Department says as global competition and tensions between Washington and Beijing continue.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. “The secretary discussed the need to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China [People’s Republic of China], especially during times of tension,” the State Department said in a statement.
The meeting came just days after US President Joe Biden infuriated Beijing by reiterating that US troops would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.
China, which claims Taiwan’s self-government as its territory, said earlier this week that it “deeply regrets and rejects” Biden’s comments.
On Friday, the State Department said Blinken underscored Washington’s commitment to “maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait” in accordance with the One-China policy, under which the United States United only recognize the Chinese government.
Although the United States does not recognize Taiwan’s independence, it maintains trade and security ties with the island.
Tensions between Washington and Beijing reached new heights last month after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a senior Democrat, traveled to Taiwan to challenge China’s claim to island.
US & China agree to communicate amidst competition
In a remark to the UNGA on Wednesday, Biden said the United States opposes “unilateral changes to the status quo” in Taiwan from both sides. He also stressed that Washington does not want a confrontation with Beijing. “Let me be direct on the competition between the US and China as we address changing geopolitical trends: the US will act as a reasonable leader,” Biden said.
On Friday, the Chinese state news agency quoted Xinhua Wang as calling for “win-win cooperation” between Washington and Beijing based on “equality and respect”. Wang also warned that the Taiwan issue could “have disruptive effects on bilateral relations if handled incorrectly,” Xinhua said.
