Mike Pompeo has led Trump administration officials to criticize Beijing.
Washington:
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he had a very frank discussion with his Chinese counterpart Wang Jiechi about “unprovoked aggression” by Beijing on several fronts.
During the meeting in Hawaii last week, Pompeo said he also pushed for “more transparency” from China in the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic for the good of the world.
The meeting, which was kept secret until the day of the meeting, took place amid tensions between China and the United States over a variety of issues.
“I met with Yang Jiechi last week in Hawaii. We had a very frank discussion about the Chinese Communist Party’s unprovoked aggression on several fronts and I pressed him for more transparency on COVID for the good of the world,” Pompeo told reporters. . at a press conference on Wednesday.
“We are concerned about Beijing’s behavior and we are not alone. And he and I are talking about it. Our friends and partners are finding their voice and taking steps to counter China’s evil activities, particularly in Europe.” he said.
United States President Donald Trump announced a series of retaliatory measures against China last month, criticizing China for imposing a controversial Hong Kong national security law that undermines the autonomy of the former British territory.
The top US diplomat has led Trump administration officials to criticize Beijing for the lack of transparency and disinformation campaign about the coronavirus since it emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
The US authorities have indicated that Washington intends to punish Beijing for the spread of the pandemic that has affected the United States, making it the most affected country with more than one lakh of deaths.
Last week, Pompeo criticized the Chinese Army for “escalating” border tension with India and militarizing the strategic South China Sea. He also described the ruling Communist Party of China (CCP) as a “dishonest actor.”
In a scathing attack on the Chinese government, Pompeo said that the Communist Party of China wants to undo all the progress the free world has made through institutions like NATO and adopt a new set of rules and regulations that will accommodate Beijing.
“The EPL (People’s Liberation Army) has intensified border tensions with India, the world’s most populous democracy. It is militarizing the South China Sea and illegally claiming more territory there, threatening vital sea routes,” Pompeo said. A day later, he expressed his deepest condolences to India for the deaths of 20 soldiers in violent clashes with PLA troops in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh on June 15.
China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported last week that Yang and Pompeo agreed to take steps to seriously implement the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries and maintain contact and communication.
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Yang conducted in-depth exchanges with Pompeo on relations between China and the United States, as well as on global and regional issues of mutual interest, according to the report.
Both sides fully set out their respective positions and considered the dialogue to be constructive. They agreed to take steps to seriously implement the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries and maintain contact and communication, the report added.
Yang is a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee.
The Chinese government-controlled media have attacked Pompeo as “evil”, “crazy” and “enemy of humanity” for accusing Beijing of trying to deceive the world about the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak.
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