VIENTIANE, Laos – The United States and China renewed their mutual grievances on Saturday as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Chinese counterpart held their sixth meeting since last 12 months amid an uncertain political situation within the United States and growing concerns about China's increasing assertiveness in Asia and elsewhere.
Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met for about an hour and 20 minutes on the sidelines of the annual Southeast Asian Regional Security Forum in Vientiane, Laos, where tensions between China and its U.S. ally the Philippines over disputes within the South China Sea were at the middle of the talks.
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Blinken and Wang had a “frank and productive” discussion but failed to succeed in substantive agreement on the problems that the majority divide the 2 countries – within the Indo-Pacific, Europe and the Americas.
“The United States will continue to take the necessary actions to protect our interests and values and those of our allies and partners, including with respect to human rights,” Blinken told Wang, in keeping with Miller.
Blinken “made clear that the United States, together with our allies and partners, will advance our vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said, referring to China's recent aggressive actions against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as a part of the mainland and which it seeks to reunify by force if crucial.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a press release that despite regular contacts, the US “has not stopped its containment and suppression of China, but has even intensified it.” The statement said that the risks to Sino-US relations “continue to mount and the challenges are also increasing” and that “it is necessary to constantly reorient the direction, manage risks, properly handle differences, eliminate disruptions and promote cooperation.”
Blinken criticized China for “destabilizing actions in the South China Sea” and “reiterated the United States' support for freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law,” Miller said.
The United States' top diplomat praised China and the Philippines for reaching an agreement earlier this week that allowed the Philippines to make a supply trip to the disputed territory on Saturday. without having to face Beijing’s armed forcesthe primary trip of this type for the reason that contract was signed.
“We are pleased to note the successful remediation effort at Second Thomas Reef today,” Blinken told the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations before his meeting with Wang. “We welcome this and hope and expect that it will continue in the future.”
Prior to the agreement, tensions between the Philippines and China escalated for months, with the Chinese coast guard and other armed forces with powerful water cannons and dangerous blockades Maneuvers to forestall food and other supplies from reaching Philippine naval personnel.
Nevertheless, Blinken, who shall be in Manila next week as a part of his current six-country tour of Asia, also lamented China's “escalating and unlawful actions against the Philippines in the South China Sea in recent months.”
During his meeting with Wang, Blinken also reiterated the deep concern of the United States and Europe over China's support for the Russian arms industry. Washington and European capitals consider that Russia is using this support to spice up the production of weapons for the war against Ukraine.
Blinken “made clear that the United States will continue to take appropriate action if China does not address this threat to European security,” Miller said. Since that warning was first issued over a 12 months ago, the United States and other countries have imposed sanctions on greater than 300 Russian and Chinese firms involved on this trade.
Asked whether the Chinese had responded to the sanctions in the way in which the United States and its allies would really like, a senior State Department official replied, “Not enough to address our concerns.” The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity concerning the private diplomatic meeting.
Blinken's Asia trip was announced just hours after President Joe Biden said he would step aside as a candidate within the November election in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. Although the senior official said that call was not discussed in Saturday's meetings, he said Blinken identified to Wang that Harris has experience with China and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bangkok in 2022.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was also present on the ASEAN meeting in Laos, however the senior official said Blinken had not had any contact with him.
From Laos, Blinken flew to Hanoi for a transient stopover to supply condolences on the death of the powerful head of Vietnam's Communist Party last week, before traveling on to Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Mongolia.
Blinken shall be accompanied by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Tokyo and Manila on Sunday and Monday. The two will meet with their Japanese and Philippine counterparts to strengthen defense cooperation. Blinken may also meet with the foreign ministers of India and South Korea in Tokyo.
Former President Donald Trump, now the Republican presidential candidate, expressed doubts concerning the usefulness of American alliances world wide during his first term and proposed reducing or eliminating the American military presence in Japan and South Korea.
Associated Press author Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.
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