The United States will respond to the challenges posed by China with “determination” and “firmness”, but nevertheless intends to maintain open “lines of communication” with Beijing, a senior American diplomat said on Wednesday. “We did it, we are doing it, and we will continue to maintain open lines of communication to responsibly manage the competition between our two countries,” State Department No. a speech at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington.
She reaffirmed that the United States was not looking for “conflict with China”, but recognized that the Asian giant was “the only competitor who has both the intention and the means to redesign the order. global”. “China has become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad,” the official added, citing repression in Hong Kong or against the Uyghur minority, as well as “threatening” pressure vis-à-vis Taiwan, in the South China Sea or in the battle for semiconductors.
Trip postponed, not canceled
Relations between the two countries have recently deteriorated after the overflight of American territory by a Chinese balloon, finally shot down on the orders of American President Joe Biden. This incident led Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone a long-awaited trip to Beijing, calling into question the desire for cooperation between the two great powers.
"We will continue to maintain open lines of communication, in order to responsibly manage the competition between our two countries."Wendy Sherman, number two of the US State Department
Asked about it, Wendy Sherman insisted that the trip had been postponed, not canceled, and that the United States hoped to be able to reschedule it in due course. “We will find the right opportunity, in order to move forward step by step” with Beijing, she said without giving a timetable.
Pressure on Taiwan denounced
On Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of China, the diplomat denounced Chinese pressure, but reiterated the American policy of “one China” and the maintenance of the historical status quo of the island. She said she hoped Beijing “would not use a visit from a US congressman as an excuse to take military action.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy has said he wants to visit Taiwan. Last August, the move to the island of his predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, angered Beijing, which then carried out unprecedented military maneuvers in the area.
Source: Lematin News