Hong Kong and other disagreements dominate US-China Hawaii meeting
- Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang dominate ‘constructive’ meeting between Mike Pompeo and Yang Jiechi
- Beijing ‘committed’ to improving ties but warns it will ‘resolutely defend’ its interests
The disagreement between China and the US on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang was laid bare in a meeting between top diplomats from the two countries in Hawaii on Wednesday, despite Beijing’s announcement that the dialogue had been “constructive” with agreement to improve worsening bilateral ties.
Yang Jiechi, a Communist Party Politburo member, told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Beijing was determined to push ahead with national security legislation for Hong Kong at the meeting, which was also joined by Deputy Secretary Stephen Biegun, US special representative for North Korea.
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Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Yang told Pompeo that China was committed to building a non-confrontational and mutually respectful relationship with the US, but China would also resolutely defend its territory, security and development interests.
“Yang pointed out that he hoped China and the US would be accommodative to each other … and push their bilateral relations to the track of coordination, cooperation and stability,” he said.
Zhao said Yang had also expressed China’s stance on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang, reiterating that the enactment of national security legislation in Hong Kong was purely an internal matter
“China’s determination to push for a national security law in Hong Kong is unshakeable. China resolutely opposes the US interference in Hong Kong affairs and the G7 foreign ministers releasing a statement on Hong Kong,” Zhao said.