Pompeo: ‘Grave concerns’ about China’s actions
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tangled with his Chinese counterparts over trade, Taiwan and other contentious issues during a high-stakes stop Monday.
With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at his side, Pompeo said the two countries had “fundamental disagreements” to discuss behind closed doors.
“We have grave concerns about the actions that China has taken,” Pompeo said before reporters were escorted out of the Beijing meeting. “I look forward to having the opportunity to discuss each of those today because this is an incredibly important relationship.”
Pompeo’s visit to China was the last stop on a four-country diplomatic tour that focused mostly on U.S. efforts to negotiate a denuclearization agreement with North Korea. In China, the agenda was much broader – including the Trump administration’s support for Taiwan, China’s territorial claims on the South China Sea and the two countries’ escalating battle over trade.
The administration imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods shipped into the USA. China retaliated with its own tariffs on U.S.-made goods.
Vice President Mike Pence escalated the administration’s rhetoric last week in a speech that accused Beijing of meddling in American democracy and trying to undermine Trump’s presidency. Pence blasted China’s regional military aggression and efforts to expand its influence across Africa and elsewhere.
Chinese officials denied Pence’s accusations of election meddling, calling it “malicious slander.”
Wang appealed to Pompeo to cease actions that Beijing sees as threatening its interests; otherwise, they could disrupt cooperation over North Korea and other issues, according to the Associated Press.
“While the U.S. side has constantly escalated trade frictions with China, it has also taken actions regarding Taiwan that harm China’s core interests,” Wang said.
The Trump administration needs China’s cooperation to make progress with North Korea on denuclearization. China has significant leverage over its communist ally – being able to squeeze or support the Kim regime economically.