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China-US diplomatic relations are expected to “begin to thaw very shortly” despite regional tension and the spy balloon incident over America, according to US President Joe Biden.
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US President Biden made the comments while attending the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan on 20 May.
During the G7 Summit, leaders discussed economic security issues, resilience to economic coercion, the importance of stability across the Taiwan Strait, and the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.
“We’re not looking to decouple from China, we’re looking to de-risk and diversify our relationship with China,” he said
“That means taking steps to diversify our supply chains, so we’re not dependent on any one country for necessary product.
“It means resisting economic coercion together and countering harmful practices that hurt our workers. It means protecting a narrow set of advanced technologies critical for our national security.
Efforts should be made to re-establish an open hotline between the People’s Republic of China PLA and United States, according to US President Biden.
“We should have an open hotline; at the Bali conference, that’s what President Xi and I agreed we were going to do and meet on,” he said.
“Then this silly balloon that was carrying two freight cars’ worth of spying equipment was flying over the United States, and it got shot down, and everything changed in terms of talking to one another. I think you’re going to see that begin to thaw very shortly.
“We’re not going to tell China what they can do. We made it clear that we don’t expect Taiwan to independently declare independence either.
“But in the meantime, we’re going to continue to put Taiwan in a position that they can defend themselves. And there is clear understanding among most of our allies that, in fact, if China were to act unilaterally, there would be a response.”
US President Biden said conflict was not inevitable and the US is advocating for the status-quo in an open Pacific.
The G7 is more united, more resolved, and more determined to set up for greater progress in the months ahead. pic.twitter.com/UU6Igk2Agz
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 22, 2023
People’s Republic of China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the country views and grows its relations with the US under the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation as proposed by President Xi Jinping.
“China and the US maintain necessary communication. However, now the US says it wants to speak to the Chinese side while seeking to suppress China through all possible means and impose sanctions on Chinese officials, institutions, and companies,” she said during a regular press conference on 22 May.
“Is there any sincerity in and significance of any communication like this? China always firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions and has made clear its stern position to the US side.
“The US side should immediately lift sanctions and take concrete actions to remove obstacles, create favourable atmosphere and conditions for dialogue and communication.
“We urge the US to form a correct perception of China, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and harming China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, and work with China to bring China-US relations back to the right track with concrete actions.”
A PRC Foreign Ministry spokesperson said affairs related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet are purely China’s internal affairs, regarding comments made at the G7 Hiroshima Summit.
“Despite China’s serious concerns, the G7 used issues concerning China to smear and attack China and brazenly interfere in China’s internal affairs. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this and has made serious démarches to the summit’s host Japan and other parties concerned,” the spokesperson said.
“The international community does not and will not accept the G7-dominated Western rules that seek to divide the world based on ideologies and values, still less will it succumb to the rules of exclusive small blocs designed to serve ‘America-first’ and the vested interests of the few. G7 needs to reflect on its behaviour and change course.
“Gone are the days when a handful of Western countries can just wilfully meddle in other countries’ internal affairs and manipulate global affairs.
“We urge G7 members to catch up with the trend of the times, focus on addressing the various issues they have at home, stop ganging up to form exclusive blocs, stop containing and bludgeoning other countries, stop creating and stoking bloc confrontation, and get back to the right path of dialogue and cooperation.”
