Blinken meets Wang, airs concerns over ‘escalating’ action in sea, Taiwan

Vientiane (Laos), July 27

The United States and China on Saturday aired their grievances as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met for the sixth since last year amid an uncertain political situation in the US and growing concerns about China’s increasing assertiveness in Asia and elsewhere.

Blinken and Wang met for roughly an hour and 20 minutes on the sideline of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vientiane. Tensions between China and Philippines over disputes in the South China Sea were a prime focus of discussion at the forum.

Matthew Miller, State Department spokesman, said Blinken and Wang had “an open and productive” discussion, but did not reach any significant agreements.

“The US will continue to take necessary actions to safeguard our interests and values, and those of our allies and partners, including on human rights,” Blinken told Wang, according to Miller. Highlighting the recently ‘aggressive’ Chinese actions toward Taiwan, Blinken made clear that the US would advance its vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, he added.

The top US diplomat scolded China for “destabilising actions in the South China Sea” and “affirmed the US’ support for freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful resolution of disputes, consistent with international law,” Miller said.

However, Blinken also praised China and the Philippines for concluding an agreement earlier this week that allowed the Philippines on Saturday to make a supply trip to the disputed area without having to confront Beijing’s forces.

Prior to the deal, tensions between the Philippines and China escalated for months, with China’s coast guard and other forces using powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking manoeuvres to prevent supplies from reaching the Filipino navy personnel.

Blinken’s Asia trip was announced just hours after President Joe Biden said he would step down as a candidate in November’s election. Although the senior official said the shake-up had not come up in Saturday’s meetings, he added that Blinken had pointed out to Wang that Harris had experience with China and had met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bangkok in 2022.

From Laos, Blinken flew to Hanoi for a brief stop to offer condolences for the passing of Vietnam’s powerful Communist Party chief and was to travel on to Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Mongolia. — AP 

Praises pact with Philippines

• The US Secretary of State praised China and the Philippines for concluding an agreement earlier this week that allowed the Philippines on Saturday to make a supply trip to the disputed area without having to confront Beijing’s forces.
• “We are pleased to take note of the successful resupply at the Second Thomas Shoal,” Blinken told ASEAN foreign ministers before his meeting with Wang Yi.