China's Wang warns Sullivan over Philippines support
3 Min Read
The Chinese FM tells the top White House official that "the United States must not use bilateral treaties as an excuse to undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
-
Wang Yi, the director of the Communist Party's Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office gestures to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan before their talk at Yanqi Lake in Beijing on August 27, 2024. (AP)
China's top diplomat Wang Yi cautioned visiting US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Wednesday against backing the Philippines in the contested South China Sea, according to state media.
Wang told Sullivan, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV, that "the United States must not use bilateral treaties as an excuse to undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor should it support or condone the Philippines's actions of infringement."
He emphasized that "China is firmly committed to safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights over the South China Sea islands."
Sullivan arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a three-day diplomatic visit, during which he would be meeting several Chinese officials to manage both nations' economic rivalries and to discuss matters related to Russia, Taiwan, and the South China Sea.
In recent weeks, Washington's allies, Japan and the Philippines have accused China of escalating regional tensions. Tokyo has alleged that Beijing violated its airspace, while Manila has labeled China as the "biggest disrupter" of peace in Southeast Asia.
Sullivan and Wang have had five meetings over the past year and a half, including in Washington, Vienna, Malta, and Bangkok, as well as during a summit in California in November 2023 with US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
During his meeting with the top White House official, Wang also emphasized that Taiwan is a part of China and asserted that China is determined to achieve reunification.
He told Sullivan that the US should "put into practice its commitment not to support Taiwan independence," according to CCTV.
Wang also called on the US to "abide by the one-China principle and the three joint communiques of China and the United States, stop arming Taiwan, and support China's peaceful reunification."
According to CCTV, Wang and Sullivan also discussed issues such as Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Korean peninsula.
It quoted the Chinese Foreign Minister as saying, "China has always been committed to advocating for peace and promoting dialogue, and working towards a political solution to the Ukraine crisis."
"The US should not shift responsibility onto China, nor should it impose illegal unilateral sanctions," he added.
Sullivan, Wang agree to theater commander phone call in near future
In the same context, the White House announced on Wednesday that Sullivan and Wang have agreed to arrange a telephone call between theater commanders in the near future.
Sullivan visited China from August 27-28 for discussions with Wang. According to the White House statement, both diplomats engaged in "candid, substantive, and constructive discussions," covering various topics, including counternarcotics, military communications, and AI safety and risk.
"They noted the importance of regular, ongoing military-to-military communications and planned to hold a theater commander telephone call in the near future," the statement mentioned.
It added that during the discussions, Sullivan emphasized the need to preserve peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
The senior Biden aide also conveyed US concerns about China's purported support for Russia’s defense industry and its potential effects on European and transatlantic security, the statement noted.
