Yang Tao, Director General of the Department of North America and Oceania of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, gave a briefing to the media on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China

Source: Broad Pacific

On the evening of April 26, 2024, Yang Tao, Director General of the Department of North America and Oceania of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, gave a briefing to the media on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China.

Yang Tao said that at the invitation of Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited China from April 24 to 26. This is part of the implementation of the consensus reached at the San Francisco summit between the two heads of state, maintaining dialogue, managing differences, advancing cooperation, and strengthening coordination on international affairs.

During Blinken's visit to China, President Xi Jinping met courtesy on the afternoon of April 26 and expounded his authoritative position and provided guidance on China-US relations from a strategic vantage point.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals, achieve each other instead of hurting each other, seek common ground while reserving differences instead of vicious competition, and believe in what they say and do what they do. These four "shoulds" are important enlightenment for the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. The three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the summary of past experience and the guidance for the future.

President Xi Jinping stressed that at a time when the world is undergoing profound changes in a century, the international situation is chaotic and intertwined, and human society is closely related and dependent on blessings and misfortunes. This is the basic starting point for China to view the world and Sino-US relations. A big country should have the attitude of a big country, have the mind and responsibility of a big country, take responsibility for world peace, create opportunities for the development of all countries, provide public goods for the world, and play a positive role in world unity. These four "actions" are examples that China and the United States should set an example.

President Xi Jinping said that in the past few months, the teams of the two sides have made some positive progress in implementing the "San Francisco Vision" agreed by the two heads of state, but there are still many issues that need to be resolved and there is still room for further efforts. Putting peace first, stability and trustworthiness are China's considerations for the steady development of China-US relations this year. China is willing to cooperate, but cooperation should be a two-way street. We are not afraid of competition, but competition should be about common progress, not a zero-sum game. China adheres to non-alignment, and the US should not engage in "small circles". Both parties can have their own friends and partners, don't target each other, don't oppose each other, don't harm each other. These important remarks by President Xi Jinping provide the latest guidance for China in handling and developing China-US relations.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a five-and-a-half-hour meeting to exchange views on China-US relations and international and regional issues, and made clear his position on major issues of core concern to China, such as strategic cognition, Taiwan, economy, trade and science and technology, the South China Sea, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy. State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with the meeting and exchanged views on Sino-US cooperation in drug law enforcement. On 25 July, Chen Jining, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal CPC Committee, met with him and exchanged views on exchanges and cooperation between Shanghai and the United States. The relevant meetings and talks were frank, substantive and constructive.

Yang Tao said that President Xi Jinping and President Biden had a successful meeting in San Francisco last November, drawing up the "San Francisco Vision" for the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-US relations. During the meeting and talks, the Chinese side stressed that this is a task entrusted to both sides by the two heads of state, and both sides should implement it to the letter. President Biden has repeatedly reiterated that the United States does not seek a "new Cold War," does not seek to change China's system, does not seek to oppose China through strengthening alliances, does not support "Taiwan independence," and has no intention of clashing with China; the United States does not seek to contain China's development, does not seek to "decouple" from China, and has no intention of preventing China's scientific and technological progress. During the visit, the US side once again reiterated these statements. In this regard, China still has the same attitude, and the US side should keep its word and do what it does, and cannot say one thing or do another.

Strategic cognition, that is, whether China and the United States should be partners or adversaries, is the root issue of China-US relations, and it is also a topic that the two sides have to discuss every time, and this time is no exception. The Chinese side stressed that China is an oriental civilization with a history of 5,000 years, a large country with a population of more than 1.4 billion that is moving towards modernization, and a socialist country that adheres to the path of peaceful development. The logic of great power hegemony and the zero-sum mentality of the Cold War are not in China's DNA, nor are they China's way of acting. China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous and developing United States, and hopes that the United States will also take a positive view of China's development. Only when the "first button" is buttoned can Sino-US relations truly stabilize, get better, and move forward. If the United States always regards China as its main adversary, Sino-US relations will only continue to be troubled and full of problems.

The Taiwan issue is the first red line in Sino-US relations that cannot be crossed. The premise for discussing the Taiwan issue between China and the United States is that Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and the Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affair because the United States is interfering in China's internal affairs. China resolutely opposes a series of erroneous words and deeds of the US on the Taiwan issue. The Chinese side stresses that if the US really wants peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, it should abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques to the letter, and must not send wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in any way, stop arming Taiwan, and support China's peaceful reunification.

The core of economic, trade, scientific and technological issues is the development rights of the Chinese people. This right is inalienable. The Chinese side pointed out that the United States has been cracking down on China's economy, trade, and science and technology one after another. This is not fair competition, but containment, not de-risking, but creating risk. China explicitly demands that the US stop hyping up the false narrative of the so-called "China's overcapacity theory", lift the illegal sanctions on Chinese companies, and stop imposing Section 301 tariffs that violate WTO rules.

We hope that the US will make the right choice, work with China in the same direction, achieve benign interaction in the Asia-Pacific region, abandon the clique that excludes the other side, refrain from coercing regional countries to take sides, stop deploying land-based intermediate-range missiles, stop undermining China's strategic security interests, and stop undermining hard-won peace and stability in the region.

Yang Tao said that during the visit, the two sides reached a five-point consensus on the basis of a comprehensive exchange of views.

First, the two sides agreed to continue to work to stabilize and develop China-US relations in accordance with the guidance of the two heads of state. The two sides affirmed the positive progress made in dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States in various fields since the San Francisco meeting, and agreed to speed up the implementation of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state in San Francisco.

Second, the two sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels. We will continue to give full play to the role of the consultation mechanisms that have been restored and newly established in the fields of diplomacy, economy, finance, and commerce. Continue to carry out exchanges between the two militaries. Further promote China-US cooperation in drug control, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

Third, the two sides announced that they will hold the first meeting of the China-US Intergovernmental Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence, continue to advance consultations on the guiding principles of China-US relations, hold a new round of China-US consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs and China-US maritime affairs, and continue to carry out China-US consular consultations. The U.S.-China Anti-Narcotics Cooperation Working Group will hold a meeting of senior officials. The United States welcomes the visit of China's Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin.

Fourth, the two sides will take steps to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, welcome students from each other's countries, and host the 14th China-US High-Level Tourism Dialogue to be held in Xi'an, China, in May.

Fifth, the two sides have maintained consultations on international and regional hotspot issues, and the special envoys of the two sides have strengthened communication.

Yang Tao answered reporters' questions.

Regarding the so-called "China's overcapacity", Yang Tao said that China's advantages in new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, photovoltaic products and other fields are not the product of Chinese government subsidies, but the result of global market demand, technological innovation and full competition. China's high-quality new energy products have made important contributions to accelerating the green transition, addressing climate change and alleviating inflationary pressures. The so-called "overcapacity" of the US side is not a conclusion defined by the market, but a false narrative artificially created, which is another example of the US engaging in protectionism and suppressing China's development. I am afraid that it is not China's production capacity that is "excessive", but the anxiety of the United States. When it comes to non-market behavior and unfair competition, the "CHIPS and Science Act" and the "Inflation Reduction Act" promulgated by the US in the past two years not only clearly mark the price of subsidies, but are also full of exclusive and discriminatory clauses.

On the issue of the South China Sea, Yang Tao said that China's sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including Ren'ai Jiao, has sufficient historical and legal basis. China has always abided by international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and no country can attempt to challenge China's legitimate rights and interests with an illegal ruling. The reasons for the current situation at Ren'ai Jiao are clear: the Philippines first reneged on its commitments and refused to tow away the illegal "beached" warship for 25 years, and then repeatedly violated the "gentlemen's agreement" and internal understanding reached with the Chinese side, wantonly violated the rights and provocations, and attempted large-scale repairs and reinforcements in order to achieve permanent occupation of Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippine side's move seriously violates Article 5 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea reached between China and ASEAN countries. The recent escalation of the situation in the South China Sea is inseparable from the US intervention. The US threatens the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty at every turn, which seriously violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and seriously jeopardizes regional peace and stability. To maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, the US should stop fanning the flames and inciting confrontation. China's determination to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.

On issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet and human rights, Yang Tao said that Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and the US should respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and refrain from smearing and slandering. Xinjiang-related and Tibet-related issues are China's internal affairs, and the US should not point fingers, let alone wantonly interfere under the pretext of human rights.

On the Ukraine issue, Yang Tao said that China is not the creator of the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to the crisis, and has not done anything to add fuel to the fire and take advantage of the opportunity. China's position is frank and unrestrained, and it can be summed up in eight words: to persuade peace talks and promote political settlement. We act in accordance with principles in the international arena, and we will not lose any of our obligations, but we will not take the blame, let alone pay for the actions of others. The US should stop smearing and pressuring and imposing unilateral sanctions on Chinese companies.

People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Media Group, China Daily, China News Service, China Global Television Network, Global Times, The Paper and other media participated in the event.