The Chinese Foreign Ministry has announced the “frank, constructive, and fruitful contacts” between officials from China and the United States concerning the improvement of bilateral relations. The announcement is a positive sign in US-China diplomacy amid recent tensions.
According to Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Kritenbrink, and the Senior Director for China at the National Security Council, Sarah Beran, have visited China. They met with Ma Zhaoxu, the Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, as reported by Xinhua News Agency, China’s official state-run press agency.
“The two sides had frank, constructive, and fruitful contacts on improving bilateral relations and managing differences correctly according to the common understandings reached by the two heads of state in Bali last November,” said Wang. He further clarified that China has firmly expressed its stance on Taiwan and other key principled issues, affirming that both parties agreed to maintain communications.
Recently, tensions have escalated between China on one side, and the United States and Taiwan on the other, following official meetings between officials from the two countries, which sparked Beijing’s ire. Beijing has warned that it will take decisive and effective measures to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Since 1949, Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China. Beijing regards the island as a province under its jurisdiction, while Taiwan asserts its status as a self-governing nation, although it has not declared independence.
