Wang Yi Holds Ministerial Talks in New York
China: "Two-faced US, One Side Pressure, One Side Dialogue"
U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a diplomatic ministerial meeting on the 27th (local time) in New York to discuss bilateral relations and international issues.
While attending the United Nations General Assembly, Secretary Blinken and Minister Wang met at the Chinese Mission to the UN in New York. In a solo press conference after the meeting, Secretary Blinken said, "We had an honest and substantive discussion with Minister Wang about measures to implement the commitments made by our two leaders during last year’s summit, including blocking the inflow of synthetic drugs and precursors into the U.S., improving military-to-military communication, and addressing risks related to artificial intelligence (AI)." The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Minister Wang warned during the meeting that "China firmly opposes the U.S.'s economic, trade, and technological suppression against China," and cautioned that a "small yard with a high fence" should not become an "iron curtain over a large yard." Minister Wang further criticized the U.S. for its "double-faced approach," stating, "The U.S. should not continue to pressure China on one hand while casually engaging in dialogue and cooperation on the other." This is interpreted as a reaction to recent U.S. national security measures targeting China, such as the ban on using Chinese software and hardware in connected cars.
Recently, the U.S. and China have resumed various dialogues and communications that were severed following then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022, including restoring military communication channels, maintaining a management mode in their relations. However, during this meeting, both sides revealed differences and engaged in sharp exchanges over sensitive issues such as the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and security concerns related to the Ukraine war.
Secretary Blinken stated, "I emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and raised concerns about China’s dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea." In response, Minister Wang said, "The greatest threat to the current situation in the Taiwan Strait is the increasingly aggressive Taiwan independence activities by the Lai Ching-te (Taiwan’s President)." He demanded that the U.S. adhere to the One-China principle, implement the three joint communiqu?s, and halt arms sales to Taiwan. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported that Wang urged the U.S. "to stop making trouble in the South China Sea and not to undermine the efforts of regional countries to maintain peace and stability there."
Regarding the Ukraine war, the U.S. publicly raised concerns about China’s support for Russia’s defense industry and warned of possible measures against China if these concerns are not resolved. Secretary Blinken emphasized in the press conference, "We also expressed strong concerns about China’s support for Russia’s defense industry," and pointed out, "It is inconsistent for China to say on one hand that it wants to end the war and achieve peace, while on the other hand allowing its companies to assist Putin’s invasion." However, Minister Wang countered by stating, "China’s position on the Ukraine issue is firm and consistent, and we have been striving for a political solution through persuasion and negotiation," urging the U.S. to stop damaging China’s image and imposing excessive sanctions.
When asked about the possibility of a meeting or call between the U.S. and Chinese leaders during multilateral summits later this year, Secretary Blinken replied, "There is no schedule to share at this time," but added, "Both sides agree that communication between leaders is important, so I expect we will see that happen within the next few weeks or months."
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