US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, recently met with top Chinese military official, General Zhang Youxia, in Beijing to discuss various pressing issues between the two countries. During the talks, Sullivan brought up concerns about stability in the Taiwan Strait, the US commitment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, China’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base, and efforts to reach a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip.
Zhang emphasized the importance of Taiwan as a “red line” in China-US relations, warning the US to cease military collusion with Taiwan, arms sales, and spreading false narratives regarding Taiwan. Despite these tensions, both officials agreed to arrange more direct military talks between commanders in the future to defuse tensions.
Sullivan also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, discussing the goal of stable development in China-US relations. They also touched on the prospect of talks between President Biden and President Xi, covering issues such as trade, the Middle East, Ukraine, and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
The talks come after a period of strained military communication between the US and China, following a visit to Taiwan by US lawmaker Nancy Pelosi. The resumption of talks signifies a willingness from both sides to work towards a more stable and cooperative relationship despite ongoing disagreements and territorial disputes in the region.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com