The US State Department extends an invitation to China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit the US, but the Chinese side has not provided any information regarding the invitation as of press time. This comes amidst ongoing tensions between the two nations, particularly concerning sensitive issues like Taiwan.
Chinese experts have expressed that the US continues to be provocative and aggressive towards China on various matters, including the Taiwan question. They caution that accepting the US request for communication does not imply an easing of tensions between China and the US. They suggest that the Biden administration needs to demonstrate sincerity in rectifying past mistakes to manage the deteriorating bilateral ties.
On Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a statement confirming that Yang Tao, Director-General of the North American and Oceania Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, held consultations with US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and White House National Security Council’s Senior Director for China Affairs Sarah Beran in Washington. The discussions covered China-US relations and global and regional issues of mutual interest and concern.
The US State Department announced on Tuesday that they had formally invited Foreign Minister Wang to visit Washington. However, it’s not clear if China has accepted the invitation. The US expects the visit to happen but has not scheduled a date yet.
Amidst these developments, the US has recently announced the provision of approximately $345 million worth of military assistance to Taiwan, marking the first instance of the Biden administration using the “presidential drawdown authority” for such aid.
In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has strongly criticized the US’s military aid to Taiwan, asserting that it violates the one-China principle and the stipulations of previous China-US joint communiqués. China considers the Taiwan question as a core interest and warns the US to refrain from enhancing military contact with the island or arming it, as it undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests and harms China-US relations and peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Chinese defense officials emphasize their close monitoring of the situation in the Taiwan Strait and their commitment to defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity while maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Chinese experts believe that while the US continues to request communication with senior Chinese officials, its ongoing provocations and aggressions against China, including in relation to Taiwan, show a lack of sincerity. They warn that meetings between senior officials from both countries may not lead to de-escalation if the US does not stop its hostile moves against China.
The different intentions behind the US and China’s demands for communication may lead to continued struggles, competition, and even confrontation in certain aspects, despite the ongoing communication between the two sides.