China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken today that the two countries must choose between «cooperation and conflict,» adding that Beijing would make «no compromises» on the issue of Taiwan.
«The foreign minister’s visit to Beijing comes at a critical moment for Sino-U.S. relations,» said Wang, the top Chinese Communist Party official in charge of diplomacy, told Blinken through an interpreter, as reported by the Chinese state television network CCTV.
«It is essential that we choose between dialogue and confrontation, between cooperation and conflict,» he said.
«Maintaining national unity is always at the heart of China's fundamental interests,» and «on this issue, China will make no compromises and no concessions,» Wang emphasized, referring to the Taiwan issue.
Moreover, China’s top diplomat stated that Sino-American relations are in a bad place, attributing this primarily to the U.S.’s misguided view of China.
«We must adopt a responsible attitude toward people, history, and the world, and reverse the downward spiral in Sino-American relations,» Wang pointed out.
Blinken has been in China since yesterday, Sunday, on the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state to that country since 2018.
Yesterday, the U.S. secretary met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, and later today he may speak with President Xi Jinping.
Blinken held talks with Qin for 7.5 hours, longer than scheduled, with the two men agreeing to keep communication channels open in order to avoid any conflict.
China considers Taiwan to be one of its provinces, which it has not yet managed to reunite with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.
Beyond the thorny issue of Taiwan, Sino-American relations are strained due to various issues, including competition in the technology sector, U.S. sanctions against Chinese companies, Beijing’s treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority, and China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.
