US isn’t following cold war or containment policy towards China, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insists
- Senior diplomats and defence officials spell out differences on issues such as South China Sea, Taiwan and human rights but stress need to continue cooperation
- Washington talks intended to prevent tensions escalating further before Trump-Xi meeting in Argentina at the end of the month
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has insisted that Washington is not “pursuing a cold war or containment policy” towards China following high-level talks between diplomats and defence officials on Friday.
Both sides used the dialogue to set out their main areas of concern – including the South China Sea, Taiwan and human rights – but insisted that they were not trying to undermine each other.
Pompeo said the US wanted “to ensure that China acts responsibly and fairly in support of the security and prosperity of each of our two countries”.
Diplomatic observers said the talks were designed to allow diplomats to spell out their red-line issues to stop tensions escalating further before Donald Trump and Xi Jinping’s meetings on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of the month.
“It is of utmost importance that they are talking to make sure that the trade war doesn’t turn into a hot war,” former Mexican ambassador to China Jorge Guajardo said. “It’s important that they address each others’ red lines.”