China’s top diplomat at meeting with US official urges Washington not to support Taiwan independence

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan that Washington should stand by a commitment not to support independence for Taiwan, during their high-level talks in the Thai capital, the Chinese foreign ministry said Saturday.

Wang said that Taiwan’s recent election didn’t change the fact that the island is part of China and the biggest challenge in U.S.-China relations is the issue of “Taiwan independence,” according to a statement from the ministry.

U.S. President Joe Biden has said he does not support Taiwanese independence, but U.S. law requires a credible defense for Taiwan and for Washington to treat all threats to the island as matters of “grave concern.”

Wang also said that both sides should use the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year as an opportunity to reflect on past experiences and treat each other as equals, rather than adopting a condescending attitude.

Both sides should “be committed to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, building a correct way for China and the U.S. to interact,” the statement quoted Wang as saying.

Wang and Sullivan met in Bangkok on Friday and Saturday, with statements from both governments hailing their discussions as “candid, substantive and constructive.” The two previously met on the Mediterranean island nation of Malta and in Vienna last year before a high-profile meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November.

During the November talks, both sides showcased modest agreements to combat illegal fentanyl and reestablish military communications, keeping the relationship from getting any worse. But the meeting failed to