Taiwan appears to have played a limited role in the seventh annual US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington this week.
Sources say that the US did not even raise the subject during closed-door talks.
However, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (楊潔篪) said in his publicly released closing remarks that China had “reaffirmed its principled positions on Taiwan.”
He said that China had stressed the need for the US to respect and accommodate the interests and concerns of China and “handle differences and sensitive issues with caution.”
Yang said that it was important for the US to respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and respect the development path chosen by Chinese.
Both sides said that the two days of dialogue were aimed at paving the way for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) visit to the US in September and sources said that Taiwan was certain to be on that agenda. Some Washington-based China experts expect that Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election, its likely outcome and impact, is to be raised by Xi.
Following the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, both sides also praised the US visit earlier this month of China’s Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, General Fan Changlong (范長龍).
It is understood that during his visit, Fan discussed Taiwan and urged the US to follow the “one China” policy and not to encourage moves toward Taiwanese independence. He also protested US arms sales to Taiwan, but said they would not result in a break in military-to-military relationships between the US and China.
Yang said that he and US Secretary of State John Kerry had “thorough discussions” on how to build a new model of major country relations, deepen practical cooperation, enhance China-US cooperation in the Asia Pacific, handle regional hotspots and global challenges and manage differences “in a constructive fashion.”
However, the Wall Street Journal reported that the meetings began under a cloud of “mistrust and acrimony” arising from tension over security in cyberspace and at sea.
“Top US officials issued stern admonitions about China’s behavior in cyberspace, warning it could threaten one of the most important geopolitical relationships in the world,” the newspaper said.
US Vice President Joe Biden warned China to keep international waterways open for trade and voiced concerns about China’s reclamation work in the South China Sea.
As the talks opened, Biden said: “Responsible countries adhere to international law and work together to keep international sea lanes open for unimpaired commerce. The notion of sea lanes being open and protected is even more crucial today than any time in human history, because of the interconnectedness of the world.”
NEW AGREEMENT: Malaysia approved imports last year after nearly two years of negotiations and inspections to meet quarantine requirements, officials said Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia. Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said. The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added. The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,
Tigerair Taiwan and China Airlines (CAL) today announced that several international flights were canceled or rescheduled due to Typhoon Ragasa. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has maintained sea and land warnings for the typhoon. Its storm circle reached the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) on Taiwan's southern tip at 11am today. Tigerair Taiwan said it canceled Monday's IT551/IT552 Taoyuan-Da Nang, IT606/IT607 Taoyuan-Busan and IT602 Taoyuan-Seoul Incheon flights. Tomorrow, cancelations include IT603 Seoul Incheon-Taoyuan, as well as flights between Taoyuan and Sapporo, Osaka, Tokyo Narita, Okinawa, Fukuoka, Saga, Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya, Asahikawa and Jeju. On Wednesday, the IT321/IT322 Kaohsiung-Macau round-trip would also be canceled. CAL announced that today's
RSS