Blinken expresses concerns over pressure on Taiwan in call with Chinese counterpart

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a phone call on Friday that he had concerns regarding China’s “continued military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan.”

“The Secretary emphasized longstanding U.S. interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and expressed concern regarding the PRC’s continued military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan,”  State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

Price said Blinken also urged China to engage in “meaningful dialogue to resolve cross-Strait issues peacefully and in a manner consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people on Taiwan.”

.@SecBlinken spoke last night with PRC Foreign Minister Wang Yi. They discussed the global energy supply, the upcoming @POTUS meeting with PRC President Xi, and the Secretary reiterated U.S. interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. https://t.co/DbmiDtMPb6

— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) November 14, 2021

“The Secretary also stressed the importance of taking measures to ensure global energy supply and price volatility do not imperil global economic recovery,” Price said in the statement. 

President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold a virtual meeting on Monday, their first bilateral meeting since Biden took office. 

The virtual meeting will cover topics including China’s military actions near Taiwan’s border, human rights, and collaboration on climate change.