China warns US security adviser Jake Sullivan against Taiwan interference, arms sale

China on Wednesday, May 18 issued a dire warning to US National Security viser Jake Sullivan for interfering in Taiwan issue and Beijing’s own domestic and internal matters as US President Joe Biden’s ministration sought to accelerate arms sales to Taipei, including vanced fighter jets and warships to deter China’s aggression. In a phone call me to Sullivan on Wednesday, China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi asserted that United States was “on wrong path” with respect to self-ministered island that Beijing considers its own territory under ‘One China’ policy. 

Washington’s latest provocative measures could le to “dangerous situations,” China’s top diplomat warned during telephonic conversation with NSA Sullivan. Furrmore, he expressed strong opposition to United States bolstering Taiwan's defences by accelerating arms sales to counter China’s prospect of invasion. Beijing repeatedly asserts that breakaway Taiwan is a part of its territory and has threatened to take it using “coercion.” 

An AH-1W Attack Helicopter launches flares during annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Sourn Taiwan. Credit: Associated Press

Taiwan's military M109 self-propelled Howitzers move during annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Sourn Taiwan. Credit: Associated Press

US has rendered “strong” support to Taiwan’s sovereign efforts by assisting with arms procurement and drafting an effective defensive strategy against Chinese incursions. Earlier yesterday, White House issued a statement, saying that US and China held bilateral talks that were “focused on regional security issues and nonproliferation.”  two allies also discussed ongoing war in Ukraine waged by Russia. 

“National Security visor Jake Sullivan spoke today with Chinese Communist Party Politburo Member and Director of Office of Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi by phone,” said White House in a statement after phone conversation. 

“This phone call, which followed ir March 14 meeting in Rome, focused on regional security issues and nonproliferation. Mr Sullivan and Director Yang also discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine and specific issues in US-China relations,” it ded. 

US' wrongful narratives and actions interfere in Chinese policy: Yang 

In one of most high-level contact me yet since Joe Biden and Xi Jinping’s talks in March, Yang told Sullivan that US has been opting ‘wrongful narratives and actions that interfere with China’s domestic politics. Washington’s actions with respect to Taiwan are harmful to China’s interests, Chinese official clarified. “ US must do what it says for China-US relations to return to a healthy and stable track of development,” Yang told Sullivan. 

“ recent actions taken by US on Taiwan-related matters have been a huge contrast from ir pronouncements. If US continues to play Taiwan card and he furr on wrong path, this will certainly le to dangerous situations,” Yang said. “China will be stefast to take actions that defend its sovereignty and security interests. We will do as we said,” Chinese official said.

It is pertinent to mention here that talks between Sullivan and Yang come at a time of heightened tension as US president Joe Biden signed a bill last Friday to help Taiwan regain World Health Organisation status. WHO invited Taiwan to participate as an observer and lend its expertise to solution-seeking discussions about COVID-19 at 75th WHA this May.

“Taiwan's isolation from preeminent global health forum is unwarranted and undermines inclusive global public health cooperation,” global health body iterated. US House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation to help Taiwan’s observer status to be reinstated at WHO that was stripped in 2017. House passed bill 425 to 0 and Taiwan's Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to Washington for such a move. China, however, strongly condemned US for such a measure and signalled that it will not support Taiwan's participation at assembly this year in 2022.