Sullivan's Visit to China: Beijing Plans to Voice 'Serious Demands'.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will visit Beijing from August 27 to 29 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Wang Yi for a new round of Sino-American strategic communication, reports Xinhua.

According to a spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the strategic communication between Sullivan and Wang Yi was an important consensus reached between the leaders of China and the US during a meeting in November 2022: since then, Wang Yi and Sullivan have held three rounds of talks, and "all of them have been substantive and constructive, and have yielded good results".

The upcoming visit will be the first trip to China by a US National Security Advisor in eight years, and also the first official visit to China by Sullivan himself.

"This is an important step for both sides in implementing the common agreements reached by the two presidents during their meeting in San Francisco. After San Francisco, the diplomatic, financial, law enforcement, climate, and military teams of both sides have maintained communication, and exchanges between the two peoples have increased," said a Beijing representative.

"Meanwhile, the United States continued to contain and suppress China. And China has taken strong countermeasures. Sino-American relations are still at a critical stage of stabilization," he added, however.

Amid this, Wang Yi "will conduct an in-depth exchange of views" with Sullivan on Sino-American relations, sensitive issues, and major international and regional hotspots. The sides will also jointly summarize the progress achieved by the two countries in implementing the agreements from the leaders' meeting in San Francisco, fully assess more than 20 dialogue and communication mechanisms that have been created or renewed, and continue to discuss issues of strategic perception and the boundaries between national security and economic activity.

"The Chinese side will focus on expressing serious concerns, formulating its position, and making serious demands on issues related to the Taiwan issue, the right to development, and China's strategic security," they added in Beijing, noting that, in particular, the Taiwan issue is the main red line that cannot be crossed in Sino-American relations, and "Taiwan independence" is the biggest risk to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Beijing stated that the American side must adhere to the principle of "one China" and fulfill its obligations not to support "Taiwan independence".

China also demands that the United States stop turning economic and trade issues into matters of politics and security.

Moreover, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to questions from the media regarding Ukraine, stating that Beijing’s position is open, and it "will continue to promote peaceful negotiations, work towards political settlement, and carry out mediating diplomacy". Beijing urged the United States to stop abusing unilateral sanctions, as well as framing, pressuring, and blackmailing China. Recently, the United States added a number of Chinese companies to the export restrictions list for supporting Russia.

China has faced increased scrutiny and pressure from the West, which demands to limit the export of dual-use goods to Russia. Such components are used by Russia to produce weapons — more details on this in Volodymyr Kravchenko's article "A Matter of Life and Death: What Should Be Known About the 'Supply' of Chinese Weapons to Russia". Chinese officials are trying to present their country as a "neutral peaceful mediator"; meanwhile, Beijing has limited high-level contacts with Kyiv and continues to deepen relations with Moscow.

"China will continue to take strong measures to protect its core interests and legitimate rights," added a Chinese official.

Beijing also stated that on the Middle East issue, China "is committed to promoting peace and justice, supports all sides in protecting their legitimate rights and interests, especially in restoring the lawful national rights of Palestine." China called for creating conditions for the earliest comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

Source: ZN.UA