The “unification” of Taiwan with mainland China is “an unstoppable historical development,” emphasized Dong, according to his ministry. The US government should “take a clear stance and firmly reject ‘Taiwan’s independence’.”
Beijing views democratically ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland, if necessary by military force. Although the USA does not recognize Taiwan diplomatically, it is its largest arms supplier. US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Si Jinping ignored the Taiwan issue at their meeting in South Korea on Thursday.
According to his ministry, Dong now said that both defense ministries should “take concrete measures to implement the consensus reached by both heads of state.” They should also strengthen political dialogue “to improve trust and resolve uncertainties” and build a bilateral military relationship “characterized by equality, respect, peaceful coexistence and stable, positive dynamics.”
Hegseth described the meeting with Dong on the sidelines of an Asean summit in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur as “good and constructive.” He stressed the need to maintain the balance of power in the region. Hegseth also addressed US concerns about China’s activities in the South China Sea, around Taiwan and towards US allies and partners, Hegseth explained in the online service X.
The US is “not looking for conflict” but will continue to “resolutely represent” its interests and ensure that it has the capabilities to do so in the region, the US Secretary of Defense emphasized.
Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she addressed a number of contentious issues during her meeting with Chinese President Xi. She expressed Japan’s “serious concerns” about China’s activities in the South China Sea, the situation in Hong Kong and the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang province, Takaichi said after the meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea. It is important to have a “direct, open dialogue” with Beijing, she emphasized.
With regard to Taiwan, she emphasized that “good relations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait” are of great importance in the interests of stability and security in the region, said Takaichi, who is considered a clear supporter of Taiwan.
Xi said at the meeting, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua, that he hoped for a “correct understanding” of China by the new Japanese government and that Tokyo would continue to maintain a “peaceful, friendly and cooperative relationship” with Beijing.
Also on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Xi met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday and invited him to visit China. It was the first official meeting between government representatives from both countries in eight years. Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have been extremely tense in recent years. At the same time, both countries are in the sights of US President Donald Trump’s drastic tariff policy.
