China warns on 'red lines' ahead of Trump, Xi meet
BEIJING, China's ambassador to the United States has issued a stern warning about the country's non-negotiable boundaries with the U.S. prior to the upcoming summit between the two nations' leaders. President Xi Jinping is set to visit Washington for the meeting, aimed at fostering stability amidst contentious issues ranging from trade disputes to the Taiwan question.
In an article penned for the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng emphasized the importance of adhering to "good faith" when addressing differences between the two nations. He cautioned the U.S. against employing pretexts like "national security," "economic imbalances," and "forced labor" to impede China's progress. Xie underscored that when China and the U.S. collaborate, both parties stand to gain, while confrontation yields mutual harm.
The Chinese ambassador reiterated that China's sovereignty, security, and development interests are sacrosanct and cannot be infringed upon. He listed four "red lines" that China will not permit to be crossed: the Taiwan issue, democracy and human rights, development paths and systems, and development rights. China maintains a claim over democratically-governed Taiwan, despite Taipei's objections.
The U.S., being Taiwan's principal arms supplier and international supporter, despite lacking formal diplomatic ties, plays a significant role in the regional dynamics.
In a separate commentary published in the same newspaper, a commentator argued that the U.S.'s misconceptions of China and its reluctance to relinquish the notion of "strategic competition" as the foundation for the deteriorating relationship. The article, signed under the pseudonym Zhong Sheng, advocated for both sides to embrace the positive developments achieved thus far, adhere to the right path, and eliminate any interference.
The commentator specifically urged the U.S. to maintain consistency in its policies, honor its commitments, and provide clarity to the bilateral relations.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
