US, Chinese diplomats meet in Beijing to discuss maritime issues including South China Sea
- Diplomacy focused on contested waters is the latest in a series of talks leading up to Joe Biden and Xi Jinping’s meeting this month in San Francisco
- Beijing conveys ‘serious concerns’ over growing US military presence in region, urges it to stop instigating aggressive moves by ‘countries concerned’
According to a brief US State Department statement, Mark Lambert, the department’s China coordinator and deputy assistant secretary for China and Taiwan, and Hong Liang, China’s director general for boundary and ocean affairs, held “substantive, constructive and candid” discussions on a range of maritime issues.
In diplomatic parlance, this wording often signals talks were heated and made limited progress. But given the breakdown in relations over the past year, the fact that the two sides are even talking is significant, analysts said.
“These consultations are part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage the US-China relationship,” the State Department said. “The United States reiterated the need to resume military-military channels, including between operators, to avoid miscommunication and miscalculation.”
A readout issued by the Chinese foreign ministry on Saturday said there had been “candid, in-depth, and constructive” exchanges on maritime security, economy and environment, with both sides agreeing to manage the maritime situation to avoid miscalculation and misunderstanding, while also exploring the possibility of cooperation.
