BEIJING 29 August 2024 (TDI): In a rare direct exchange, top White House aide Jake Sullivan emphasized the importance of stability in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea during a meeting with a senior Chinese military official on Thursday, according to the United States.
Sullivan’s visit to China marks the first time a U.S. National Security Advisor has visited Beijing since 2016.
His three-day trip, which began on Tuesday, included discussions with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other high-ranking officials, against the backdrop of escalating security tensions between China and U.S. allies the Philippines and Japan.
China-US Relations
On Thursday, Sullivan met with senior Chinese military leader Zhang Youxia at the Central Military Commission’s headquarters in Beijing.
“It’s rare that we have the opportunity for this kind of exchange,” Sullivan remarked during the meeting, highlighting the importance of managing U.S.-China relations responsibly given the current global climate.
Zhang thanked Sullivan for his visit, noting that the meeting “reflects the value the American government places on military security.”
Both officials agreed to arrange a call between their respective theater commanders “in the near future,” as reported by the White House.
Sullivan emphasized the need for “stability” in the Taiwan Strait and the importance of “freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea, where recent clashes between China and the Philippines have heightened tensions.
He also expressed concerns about “Beijing’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base,” echoing longstanding U.S. accusations that China has denied, according to the White House.
Sullivan further stressed the need to avoid escalation and miscalculation in cyberspace and discussed ongoing efforts to secure a truce and a captives agreement in Gaza, the White House added.
On Wednesday, Sullivan and Wang discussed plans for upcoming talks between their respective leaders and debated Beijing’s increasingly assertive stance in disputed maritime regions.
Sullivan reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to defending its Indo-Pacific allies, the White House noted. Chinese state media reported that Wang issued a warning to the United States during their discussions.
US Should Stop Arming Taiwan
According to CCTV, Wang stated that the United States must not use bilateral treaties as a pretext to undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor should it support or overlook actions by the Philippines that violate China’s interests.
Sullivan and Wang have met five times over the past year and a half, in locations including Washington, Malta, Vienna, Bangkok, and alongside Presidents Biden and Xi in Woodside, California, in November 2023.
Also Read More: Sullivan Visits Beijing to Ease Strained Relations
Wang reiterated that Taiwan is part of China and that Beijing is determined to achieve reunification, urging the U.S. to cease arming Taiwan, as reported by CCTV.
The White House noted that Sullivan “underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
The two officials also discussed a range of other issues, including the Middle East, Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula, according to statements from both sides.
