[ad_1]
US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday appealed to Chinese counterparts for religious freedom, navigation in the South China Sea and other issues for the purpose. to set up a summit between the presidents of their nations at the end of the month.
Although Pompeo noted that the diplomatic and security dialogue between the United States and China in Washington was "productive," he pointed to China's repression of certain religious groups.
"The United States and the international community will continue to express our concern over China's crackdown on religious groups – Christian, Buddhist and 800,000 to perhaps millions of Muslims – who have been denied their freedoms." said Pompeo at a joint press briefing after Friday's talks.
Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Politburo, insisted that these issues were "China's internal affairs" and that "foreign countries do not have the right to interfere".
Beijing has defended its internment camps in western Xinjiang which, according to human rights groups, now shelter about 1 million men and women. Muslim women.
China says that "vocational training centers" aim to ensure safety. Activists say there is evidence of torture, widespread surveillance and signs that detainees are forced to give up their religion.
Yang said Friday that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the social and economic development of Xinjiang and Tibet and has taken many measures to promote stability, "unity" and the well-being of the people . Xinjiang is home to Uyghur ethnicity, Turkish-speaking minority of the region, Kazakh ethnicity and other Muslims.
Taiwan Politics
During Friday's dialogue, US officials also reaffirmed "close ties" with Taiwan, which has been autonomous since the 1940s but has been claimed by China.
"I reiterated that US policy had not changed and that we were concerned about China's increasing efforts to compel others to restrict Taiwan's international space," Pompeo said.
In response to a VOA question, Chinese diplomat Yang said, "Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory," adding that Beijing will remain committed to its "one-China principle."
The nuance between Washington's "One China Policy" and China's "One China Principle" is that the US position suggests that a future resolution can be peacefully determined by both China and China. by Taiwan.
The United States regards Taiwan as part of a network of Asian democracies and an informal Taiwan-US network. ties improved under US President Donald Trump. He signed the Taiwan Travel Act earlier this year, which encourages visits "at all levels" between US and Taiwanese authorities.
And a high-level meeting could be held in the coming days, when US Vice President Mike Pence will visit the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea. Diplomatic sources said arrangements were underway for Pence to meet Morris Chang, a retired technology guru who founded the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), on the sidelines of the summit. 39; APEC.
A senior administration official said that Mr. Pence's meetings with regional leaders were still planned, but that a meeting between Mr. Pence and Mr. Chang, the Taiwan envoy to APEC, was not excluded.
"The United States will meet their interlocutors with whom they want," said one official, asking whether China warned of such a meeting.
South China Sea
With regard to the South China Sea, the Chinese authorities have stated that the United States should cease sending ships and planes near the islands claimed by China.
The disputed sea is a major trade route in Asia, where Beijing has landfills for military infrastructure.
"We continue to worry about China's activities and its militarization in the South China Sea," Pompeo told reporters on Friday. "We have asked China to honor its past commitments in this area."
US authorities have stated that they will not put an end to so-called "freedom of navigation" patrols to ensure that countries do not restrict traffic in international waters.
Both countries have sought ways to ease tensions, maintain open lines of communication and reduce the risk of miscalculation in the South China Sea.
Mattis said all military and civilian ships and aircraft should "operate safely and professionally" in disputed international waters.
"The United States is determined to finalize a strategy of deconfliction and communication between China and the military crisis," Mattis said at the conclusion of Friday's state department talks.
