China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, issued a warning to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan against Taiwan’s independence during their two-day meeting in Thailand over the weekend, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Wang referred to the Taiwan issue as the greatest challenge to Beijing-Washington relations, urging the United States not to interfere in matters concerning the island.
The White House confirmed that Sullivan discussed “cross-Strait issues” with Wang and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Simultaneously, China and the United States agreed to conduct their first governmental talks on artificial intelligence (AI) this spring, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. This development aligns with the commitment made by US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit in November to “maintain strategic communication and responsibly manage the relationship,” as stated by the White House.
This in-person meeting between high-ranking US and Chinese officials marked the first since the Taiwanese presidential election earlier this month, resulting in the victory of Lai Ching-te from the ruling, independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party. China strongly objected to a US delegation’s visit to Taiwan following the presidential race, considering the self-ruled island as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, even if by force.
