White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan recently met with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi amid escalating tensions between China and key US allies such as Japan and the Philippines. The meeting followed an incident where Japan scrambled fighter jets in response to a Chinese military aircraft’s incursion into its airspace. In a news conference, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary described the incident as a serious violation of sovereignty.
In the Philippines, the defense chief accused China of being the “biggest disruptor” of peace in Southeast Asia following confrontations between the two countries’ ships in the South China Sea. Sullivan’s visit to Beijing aimed to discuss areas of agreement and disagreement between the US and China, including the situation in the South China Sea.
The US official also expressed concerns about China’s support for Russia’s defense industry expansion since the invasion of Ukraine. The two countries have a complex relationship, dating back to Henry Kissinger’s secret visit to Beijing in 1971 to normalize relations. Sullivan and Wang have met multiple times over the past year and a half to address various issues, including tech and national security.
Overall, Sullivan’s visit underscores the importance of managing tensions between the US and China, as well as their respective allies. It also highlights the need for constructive dialogue to address disagreements and prevent further escalation that could lead to conflict. The visit comes ahead of the US elections in November, signaling a continued focus on US-China relations in the months to come.
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