BEIJING: China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, on Wednesday warned visiting US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan over Washington’s support for the Philippines in the South China Sea dispute, state media reported, underscoring the growing tensions between the two global powers on several fronts.
Sullivan landed in Beijing on Tuesday for a three-day trip, saying on arrival he looked forward to “a very productive round of talks” with foreign minister Wang to address regional conflicts and broader international issues.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, Wang Yi told Sullivan 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.”
Tensions in the region have intensified over the past week, with Japan and the Philippines accusing China of exacerbating regional instability. Tokyo has alleged that Chinese aircraft violated its airspace, while Manila has labeled China as the “biggest disrupter” of peace in Southeast Asia.
According to CCTV, Wang emphasized to Sullivan that “China is firmly committed to safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights over the South China Sea islands”.
Tensions between Manila and Beijing over disputed reefs and waters in the South China Sea have escalated in recent days.
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Beijing had enacted “control measures” against two Philippine Coast Guard ships which it claimed had “illegally” entered Chinese waters. The Philippines responded by denouncing these actions as “aggressive,” further straining relations.
Wang Yi and Jake Sullivan also discussed Taiwan, with Wang reiterating Beijing’s position that Taiwan is an integral part of China. He urged the US to adhere to the one-China principle, cease arms sales to Taiwan, and support China’s “peaceful reunification” efforts.
READ ALSO: Israel Launches Deadly West Bank Offensive as Gaza War Drags On
Wang Yi told Sullivan that the US should “put into practice its commitment not to support Taiwan independence”, according to CCTV. Wang also stressed that Taiwan belonged to Beijing and that China will “certainly be unified”.
Wang Yi and Jake Sullivan meet in Beijing for strategic communication pic.twitter.com/J7DzINaU9j
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) August 27, 2024
The meeting also covered other global issues, including the Ukraine crisis, the Middle East, and the Korean Peninsula. Wang Yi emphasized China’s commitment to promoting peace and dialogue, and criticized the US for shifting responsibility onto China and imposing unilateral sanctions.
“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,” Wang said.
Sullivan and Wang have met five times over the past year-and-a-half — in Washington, Vienna, Malta and Bangkok, as well as alongside US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a November 2023 summit in California.
