[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] A senior U.S. government official said on the 24th (local time) that Wendy Sherman, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, will visit China and present the interests and values of the United States and its allies in an honest and direct manner.
The official stated during a phone briefing ahead of Sherman's scheduled visit to China on the 25th-26th, "Deputy Secretary Sherman is an experienced diplomat, and we will approach this meeting with full attention."
He added, "Deputy Secretary Sherman will make it clear that while we welcome intense and ongoing competition with China, everyone must play on a level playing field under the same rules."
He continued, "Deputy Secretary Sherman will emphasize that intense and sustained competition should not escalate into conflict," and explained, "The U.S. wants to ensure that there are guardrails and limits in responsibly managing the U.S.-China relationship."
Another official attending the briefing elaborated, "The main purpose of this meeting is an honest exchange of views on bilateral relations," and "It is not about negotiating specific issues but about keeping high-level communication channels open."
They highlighted that Sherman's visit to China is based on coordination with allies such as South Korea and Japan. Sherman will visit Japan, South Korea, and Mongolia starting from the 18th, then proceed to China on the 25th.
However, they clarified, "We are not seeking an anti-China coalition through cooperation with allies and partners. Rather, we aim to cooperate multilaterally to maintain a rules-based international order."
They also mentioned that there will be an exchange of views on areas of U.S.-China cooperation during this visit. Although specific agenda items were not disclosed, they indicated that concerns about China's actions inconsistent with UN Security Council resolutions would be raised, suggesting a possibility of requesting China's cooperation regarding the implementation of North Korea policy.
Deputy Secretary Sherman is also expected to express condolences for the flood damage that occurred in China.
Officials explained that Sherman will meet with Xie Feng, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Tianjin, China, and then meet Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China, on the 26th.
They pointed out that the meeting location being Tianjin, not the capital Beijing, is "not a typical meeting. It is something very new."
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