US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday urged China to dial down actions that the US says have caused tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
The US is concerned that tensions across the Taiwan Strait have increased and believes China is contributing to those tensions through provocative military activities around Taiwan and in the Strait, Sullivan said aboard Air Force One en route to Asia.
Sullivan reiterated that US policy toward Taiwan based on Washington’s “one China” policy, the Three Joint Communiques, the Taiwan Relations Act and the “six assurances” has not changed.
Photo: Reuters
The US is committed to supporting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and no unilateral changes to the “status quo,” Sullivan said, adding that it would help ease tensions if China “dialed down” its actions and activities.
Sullivan was responding to a question about a telephone conversation he had on Wednesday with Chinese Central Foreign Affairs Commission Director Yang Jiechi (楊潔篪).
Yang told Sullivan that the US has been adopting narratives and actions regarding Taiwan for a while that interfere with China’s domestic politics and are harmful to China’s interests, Xinhua news agency and China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Thursday.
If the US persisted in playing the “Taiwan card” and stayed on the wrong path, it could lead to a “dangerous” situation, Yang was cited as saying.
Yang also said that China would take “firm actions” to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests, and that the US can count on China to keep its promise.
Specifically asked about Yang’s remarks and the potentially “dangerous” situation, Sullivan said that China has offered formulas like that for months, and he did not think there was anything particularly new in Yang’s statement.
Sullivan would not reveal what he and Yang discussed on the topic of Taiwan, but he said that Taiwan and several other issues, including North Korea’s nuclear missile activities, were covered.
The phone call came one day before Sullivan set off with US President Joe Biden on Biden’s first presidential trip to Asia, which includes stops in South Korea and Japan.
Biden is expected to meet with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and attend a leaders’ summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), an alliance of the US, Japan, India and Australia, in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Biden’s trip has been portrayed by media as being heavily focused on China and North Korea.
Citing Japanese government sources, Kyodo News on Tuesday reported that Kishida and Biden would highlight “peace and stability for Taiwan” and “share concerns that the Ukraine crisis could occur in East Asia.”
An article published by Politico on Thursday said that the Quad summit of alliance leaders would focus on countering China’s rising economic, diplomatic and military clout in the Indo-Pacific region.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday expressed “shock and regret” over a statement issued by his wife without his consent, and rejected her assertion that his eldest sister, Ma Yi-nan (馬以南), would manage his medical care or act as his spokesperson amid an ongoing embezzlement probe into his foundation. Ma Ying-jeou in a statement said he was shocked by a statement by his wife, Chou Mei-ching (周美青), regarding his affairs. Ma Yi-nan “must not” be in charge of his healthcare and other personal affairs, nor can she be allowed to represent the Ma family, the former president said. He said he was also
RSS