The US on Thursday said it would not “paper over” differences between it and China when top officials of the world’s two largest economies meet to discuss financial and political strategy in Washington next week.
US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Daniel Russel set the scene for contentious exchanges at the annual US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue by stressing that differences over the South China Sea, cybersecurity and human rights would be high on the US agenda.
Speaking after revelations of massive cyberattacks on US government computers in the past two weeks, which US officials have blamed on Chinese hackers, Russel said cybersecurity issues would be raised throughout the talks from Monday to Wednesday in Washington.
The US would also stress human rights, including the issue of democracy in Hong Kong, China’s “very problematic” law on non-govermental organizations, and its restrictions on media and civil society, he told a media briefing.
China has indicated a desire to avoid acrimony at the talks, looking to set the stage for a successful visit to Washington by Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in September.
Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Zheng Zeguang (鄭澤光) yesterday told a forum in Beijing that China would seek to “constructively handle and control” differences with the US on maritime disputes, cybersecurity and human rights.
“On these issues, our attitude is to not evade and to resolutely defend China’s interests,” Zheng said.
Russel said maritime disputes in the South China Sea were “not fundamentally” between the US and China, and that the US had “an unwavering determination ... to avoid military confrontation, including with China.”
However, he said the principles of freedom of navigation and overflight were at stake and maritime claims had to be consistent with international law.
“It’s an issue of China’s future and of China’s choices,” Russel said.
He called this week’s announcement by China that it planned to continue and expand the construction of facilities on reclaimed outposts in disputed waters troubling.
“Neither that statement, nor that behavior, contributes to reducing tensions... We consistently urge China to cease reclamation to not construct further facilities and certainly not to further militarize outposts in the South China Sea,” Russel said.
This year’s meeting comes amid heightened tensions, not just over Beijing’s increased territorial assertiveness and the allegations of cyberspying, but China’s expanding economic influence across the Pacific Rim at a time of growing doubts over US leadership after last week’s congressional rebuff of US President Barack Obama’s landmark Asia-Pacific trade pact.
US officials are also to press China on currency policy, a senior US Treasury official said.
The meeting is to be chaired on the US side by US Secretary of State John Kerry and US Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew, while China’s delegation will be led by Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (楊潔篪) and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang (汪洋).
MISINFORMATION: The generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as ‘Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,’ the NSB said Five China-developed artificial intelligence (AI) language models exhibit cybersecurity risks and content biases, an inspection conducted by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The five AI tools are: DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Tongyi (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶), the bureau said, advising people to remain vigilant to protect personal data privacy and corporate business secrets. The NSB said it, in accordance with the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), has reviewed international cybersecurity reports and intelligence, and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to conduct an inspection of China-made AI language
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
CHECKING BOUNDARIES: China wants to disrupt solidarity among democracies and test their red lines, but it is instead pushing nations to become more united, an expert said The US Department of State on Friday expressed deep concern over a Chinese public security agency’s investigation into Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for “secession.” “China’s actions threaten free speech and erode norms that have underpinned the cross-strait ‘status quo’ for decades,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. The Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau late last month listed Shen as “wanted” and launched an investigation into alleged “secession-related” criminal activities, including his founding of the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization that prepares people for an invasion by China. The spokesperson said that the US was “deeply concerned” about the bureau investigating Shen
‘TROUBLEMAKER’: Most countries believe that it is China — rather than Taiwan — that is undermining regional peace and stability with its coercive tactics, the president said China should restrain itself and refrain from being a troublemaker that sabotages peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks after China Coast Guard vessels sailed into disputed waters off the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) in Taiwan — following a remark Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made regarding Taiwan. Takaichi during a parliamentary session on Nov. 7 said that a “Taiwan contingency” involving a Chinese naval blockade could qualify as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, and trigger Tokyo’s deployment of its military for defense. Asked about the escalating tensions
RSS