China tells US: Don’t harm our ‘legitimate rights and interests’

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/Pool

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese President Xi Jinping had told United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken to respect Beijing and its “legitimate” rights and interests,” Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said on Tuesday.

In a statement, Huang bared details of Xi and Blinken’s meeting on Monday afternoon during the latter’s visit to Beijing.

READ: Blinken meets Xi Jinping during pivotal China trip to salvage frosty ties

He said Xi zoomed in on the responsibility that lies on the shoulders of both China and the US “to coexist in peace and have friendly and cooperative relations.”

“The common interests of the two countries should be valued, and their respective success is an opportunity instead of a threat to each other. The international community is generally concerned about the current state of China – US relations.”

READ: Xi, Blinken agree to stabilize US-China relations in Beijing talks

Xi, according to Huang, also argued that “major-country competition does not represent the trend of the times, still less can it solve America’s own problems or the challenges facing the world.”

“China respects US interests and does not seek to challenge or displace the United States. In the same vein, the United States needs to respect China and must not hurt China’s legitimate rights and interests. Neither side should try to shape the other side by its own will, still less deprive the other side of its legitimate right to development,” he said.

Huang said Xi had also raised China’s constant hope for “sound and steady” ties between Beijing and Washington.

He likewise expressed belief that the two global giants can overcome challenges and “find the right way to get along based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.”

Xi, said Huang, also urged the US “to adopt a rational and pragmatic attitude and work with China in the same direction.”

The Chinese leader had stressed the need for the US and China to stay committed to what he and US President Joe Biden had agreed upon in their meeting in Bali, Indonesia, last November 2022.

READ: Biden and Xi clash over Taiwan in Bali but Cold War fears cool

Xi pointed to the need to “translate the positive statements into actions so as to stabilize and improve China – US relations.”

US not looking for conflict with China
According to Huang, Blinken also reaffirmed the US commitment to the agenda set by Xi and Biden during their Indonesia meeting.

“The United States stands by the commitments made by President Biden, namely the United States does not seek a new Cold War, it does not seek to change China’s system, its alliances are not directed at China, it does not support ‘Taiwan independence,’ and it does not seek conflict with China.”

The Taiwan question has long sparked tensions in the US – China relations.

Beijing views the self-governed island of Taiwan as part of its territory. Washington, meanwhile, maintains unofficial ties with Taipei.

Biden had also previously promised that American forces would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, June 18, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/Pool

US – China ties moving forward
Huang said Blinken also expressed Washington’s interest in having high-level engagement with Beijing by “keeping open lines of communication, responsibly managing differences, and pursuing dialogue, exchanges, and cooperation.”

Blinken is the first US Secretary of State to meet the Chinese President since 2018.

In February, Blinken postponed his Beijing visit after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was monitored flying across the US in what it deemed a “clear violation” of US sovereignty.

Blinken’s meeting with Xi happened on the last day of his re-scheduled two-day visit to Beijing.

Aside from Xi, Blinken also met with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and foreign minister Qin Gang.

JMS