NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. Foreign Minister Antony Blinken told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday that maintaining peace and stability in Taiwan was of vital importance as the two men encountered in a context of strong tensions around the island that China considers an integral part of its territory.
Taiwan was at the center of “direct and honest” 90-minute talks between Antony Blinken and Wang Yi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, a senior US administration official told reporters.
“For our part, the Secretary of State (Blinken) has made it clear that, in accordance with our long-term one-China policy, which has not changed, the maintenance of peace and stability on both sides “other side of the Taiwan Strait is of absolute and vital importance,” the senior official said.
Tensions over Taiwan escalated between the United States and China after the visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, last August which provoked the ire of Beijing.
This visit prompted China to launch large-scale military exercises in the region and prompted US President Joe Biden to pledge to defend Taiwan.
(Report Humeyra Pamuk, Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom, French version Matthieu Protard)