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Yuanyue Dang

Jun Mai

Beijing’s most senior uniformed military official, Zhang Youxia, described Taiwan as the “the uncrossable first red line” in talks with visiting US national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Zhang and Sullivan met in Beijing before the US official went into talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, the last day of Sullivan’s three-day trip to China.
Zhang, vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, is the most senior military official to meet a representative from the Biden administration.


Sullivan is the first White House national security adviser to visit Beijing in eight years.
Zhang told Sullivan that Taiwan was “the heart of China’s core interests” as well as “the foundation of the political basis” of US-China relations, according to an article posted on the Chinese defence ministry’s website.
Zhang demanded that Washington stop its “military ties” with Taiwan, “stop arming Taiwan” and “stop spreading false narratives about Taiwan”, the article said.
“Resolutely opposing Taiwan independence and promoting reunification is the mission and duty of the People’s Liberation Army. We must respond to the reckless provocations of the Taiwan independence forces,” Zhang added.
Beijing regards Taiwan as part of China, to be reunified by force if necessary, and has repeatedly warned that this is the main “red line” in US-China relations that must not be crossed.
Most countries, including the US, do not recognise self-ruled Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington opposes any move to take it by force and is legally obliged to arm the island to defend itself.
The meeting between Zhang and Sullivan also comes amid several clashes between China and the Philippines near disputed shoals in the South China Sea. Washington has pledged to protect Manila under the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty.
According to the White House, Sullivan told Zhang the US valued “the importance of cross-strait peace and stability” and America was committed to “freedom of navigation in the South China Sea”.


Other topics discussed in the meeting included Beijing’s support for Moscow and the crisis in Gaza. The White House said the two sides agreed to hold a call between theatre commanders “in the near future”.
Sullivan concluded two days of talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday. During those talks Wang also asked the US to stop arming Taiwan.
He reaffirmed China’s insistence on territorial sovereignty and maritime rights over the South China Sea, saying the US should not “use bilateral treaties as an excuse to undermine China’s sovereignty” and must not “support or condone the Philippines’ infringements”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
According to the White House, Sullivan told Wang “the United States will continue to take necessary actions to prevent advanced US technologies from being used to undermine our national security, without unduly limiting trade or investment”.
Wang and Sullivan also discussed military communications, counter-narcotics efforts and governance of artificial intelligence, the White House said.


The last US national security adviser to visit China was Susan Rice, who met Xi during her visit in July 2016. Rice met Fan Changlong, then CMC vice-chairman, during a visit in August 2015.
US President Joe Biden, who will end his presidency in a few months, has not visited China so far during his tenure – the first president not to do so since Jimmy Carter.
On Wednesday, the White House said Biden and Xi Jinping would speak by phone “in coming weeks”.


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Military official tells US’ Sullivan Taiwan is Beijing’s ‘uncrossable first red line’

Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, (right) shakes hands with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan before a meeting at the Bayi building in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: AP

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US national security advisor Jake Sullivan (left) meets Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua

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White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, prepare to head in for talks in Beijing on Tuesday, the first day of Sullivan’s three-day visit. Photo: AP

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan arrives in Beijing on Tuesday for a three-day visit. Photo: CCTV

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China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi gestures near US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan before talks at Yanqi Lake in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan have held two days of talks in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

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China

Military

On last day of China trip, Sullivan says the US values its ‘commitment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea’: White House


On last day of three-day China trip, Sullivan says the US values its ‘commitment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea’: White House


Military official tells US’ Sullivan Taiwan is Beijing’s ‘uncrossable first red line’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}On last day of China trip, Sullivan says the US values its ‘commitment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea’: White House

On last day of China trip, Sullivan says the US values its ‘commitment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea’: White House