THE spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussed a recent phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in Beijing where the pair had a ‘candid and in-depth’ exchange regarding issues in the U.S.-China relationship.
“Last night, President Xi Jinping spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden on the phone at the request of the latter. The two presidents had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations and issues of mutual interest.”
“Over the past months, [American and Chinese] officials have acted on the presidential understandings in earnest. The China-U.S. relationship is beginning to stabilize, and this is welcomed by both societies and the international community. On the other hand, the negative factors of the relationship have also been growing, and this requires attention from both sides,” Wang Wenbin, Spokesperson, Chinese Foreign Ministry stated.
This is the remarks made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Wang Wenbin following the candid phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden.
Wang said that President Xi made clear during the call that the ‘Taiwan question is the first red line,’ that should not be crossed by the US.
XI also stated that “China is not going to sit on its hands” while Taiwanese separatist movements receive ‘external’ support.
To recall, in March, The US House of Representatives ordered ByteDance, the Chinese-based parent company of the social media platform TikTok, to sell the application within six months or otherwise risk facing a nationwide TikTok ban.
Washington has also recently imposed restrictions on the Chinese exports of electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products.
“The U.S. side has adopted a string of measures to suppress China’s trade and technology development, and is adding more and more Chinese entities to its sanctions lists. This is not ‘de-risking,’ but creating risks. If the U.S. side is willing to seek mutually beneficial cooperation and share in China’s development dividends, it will always find China’s door open; but if it is adamant on containing China’s hi-tech development and depriving China of its legitimate right to development, China is not going to sit back and watch,” Wang Wenbin added.
Addressing tensions in the South China Sea, Wang called on the Philippines to abide by the provisions of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea after the state announced plans to develop oil and gas resources in the disputed area in cooperation with the US and other allied countries.
“President Xi Jinping stated China’s position on Hong Kong-related issues, human rights, the South China Sea, and other issues. President Joe Biden noted that the U.S.-China relationship is the most consequential relationship in the world.”
“The Philippines has been pursuing selfish gains at the expense of the consensus reached by countries in the region. This is the main reason why the situation in the South China Sea has escalated and become more complicated. We once again urge the Philippines to respect the facts, observe the relevant understandings between the two sides and DOC provisions,” Wang Wenbin stressed.