America

Top US and China officials hold high-level meeting in Rome

March 14, 2022
Henry Club

Chinese state media reports did not provide any further details on Monday’s meeting, including the exact timing, what was discussed and whether the meeting had ended.

Experts say the meeting between senior US and Chinese officials could have far-reaching consequences not only for the ongoing war in Ukraine, but also for China’s role in the world and its relations with the West. The meeting has also taken on additional urgency as concerns grow in the West that Beijing is not only favoring Russia Don’t condemn its aggression in Ukraine but may take further steps to assist its strategic partner.
A senior US official told CNN on Sunday that Moscow Beijing has sought military aid In Ukraine, including drones. Such aid, while providing a significant boost to Russia, would pose a major risk to China, which has so far sought to portray itself as a neutral actor in the conflict.

China denies that Russia asked for military equipment or other aid to support its war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday also denied allegations that Russia had requested military aid from China in Ukraine.

Referring to reports that Russia had sought military help from China, Council on Foreign Relations President Richard N. Haas said such an election would be a “defining moment” for China and the 21st century.

Haas wrote on Twitter, “Doing so (providing support) means China will open itself up to substantial sanctions and make itself a pariah; refusal leaves the possibility of at least selective cooperation with the US and the West.” Will stay.”

According to a US official familiar with the matter, Russia has also sought economic assistance from China. That request and military support came after a Russian invasion of Ukraine, said the official, who declined to give details of the Chinese response, but indicated Beijing had responded.

Sullivan told Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that the US is “watching closely” to see if China offers any support to Russia.

Sullivan said, “It is our concern. And we have told Beijing that we will not stand with any country and will not allow Russia to recover damages caused by economic sanctions.”

The potential economic risk associated with backing Russia is unlikely to be lost on Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who is widely expected to secure a historic third term in power during the Communist Party’s 20th National Congress in Beijing.

During such a crucial year, the Chinese government will be wary of engaging in Western sanctions, which could be a blow to its economy – at a time when Beijing has already established lowest official target for economic development in three decades.

A group of leading China experts in the US on Friday called on Washington to keep the door open to diplomacy with China and “impressed Beijing that its long-term interests would not be best served by tying a pariah” such as Russia. . Condemned by most of the Western world.

“By using diplomatic access to Beijing … the US will be able to lay the groundwork for more effective pressure against China if Xi supports more openly [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s brutal aggression,” wrote the group convened by the Asia Society’s Center on US-China Relations and UC San Diego’s 21st Century China.

Asked whether Russia has sought military aid from China, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Monday described the claims made by the US against China as “with sinister intentions”.

“China’s position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear, and we are playing a constructive role in promoting peace talks. It is necessary for all parties to exercise restraint and defuse tensions rather than adding fuel to the fire; this It is important, Zhao said at a regular press briefing, to insist on a diplomatic solution rather than aggravate the situation.

an important meeting

Monday’s meeting between Yang and Sullivan is seen by both sides as a move towards better communication by Xi and US President Joe Biden at their summit late last year.

U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horn said in a statement on Sunday that the two sides were “ongoing efforts to manage competition between our two countries” as well as “regardless of Russia’s war against Ukraine on regional and global security.” effect” will be discussed.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao did not mention Russia or Ukraine in a statement about the meeting posted online on Sunday, but said the two sides “exchange views on China-US relations and international and regional issues of common concern.” Will provide.”

According to Zhao, the “key issue” of the meeting will be implementing the “significant consensus” by Xi and Biden at their virtual summit, adding that the two sides have been coordinating the meeting since late last year.

Sullivan and Yang, who is the director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, last met in Zurich in October for a meeting ahead of the Xi-Biden video summit.

That summit was widely seen as a bid to reset the tone of relations between the two global powers, and help strengthen communications for both sides to better manage such a relationship. Opportunity to express your interest stressed out On trade, technology and China’s human rights record.

But nearly four months later, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has become an important international issue, bolstering coordination and solidarity between the US and its allies and also bringing a divergent viewpoint from China into the limelight.

China sought to portray itself as a neutral party, often insisting that “the legitimate security concerns of all countries” should be addressed, but not the sanctions imposed by the US and its allies against Russia and His decision not to go along with its amplification risks Russia’s misinformation, putting it at further odds with the West.

This story has been updated with additional development.

CNN’s Sam Fossum, Caitlan Collins, Jim Scuto and Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.