China’s ambassador to the US has outlined four “red lines” that Beijing expects Washington not to cross ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day state visit to the US, as President Donald Trump prepares to host him amid tensions over Taiwan, human rights and China’s political system.According to the New York Post, Chinese ambassador Xie Feng highlighted Taiwan, democracy and human rights, China’s development path and political system, and its development rights as issues that cannot be challenged.In an op-ed published in the Communist Party-run People’s Daily, Xie said China’s “sovereignty, security, and development interests cannot be violated”.
China warns US against crossing ‘red lines’
Xie also called on the US to stop using issues such as national security, economic imbalances and forced labour as reasons to constrain China. He said competition between the two countries, including in artificial intelligence, should remain healthy rather than become a zero-sum contest.The ambassador also referred to the “constructive and strategically stable” relationship that Trump and Xi agreed to pursue during their May summit in Beijing, saying the two sides should now turn that language into reality.Taiwan remains a particularly sensitive issue for Beijing. A separate People’s Daily commentary published a day earlier described the Taiwan issue as a “guardrail and safety net” for US-China relations and urged Washington to handle it with “the utmost caution”.
Trump prepares to host Xi
Xi is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Wednesday for his first US state visit in 11 years. He is set to meet Trump on Thursday, September 24, marking their second face-to-face meeting since Trump returned to the White House.Trump is expected to personally receive Xi at Joint Base Andrews, in a rare gesture for a visiting foreign leader. The White House is also scheduled to host a state dinner for the Chinese president, with a military flyover planned during his visit.The planned welcome has drawn criticism from some US lawmakers. Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Roger Wicker said he would have advised Trump against extending such a “lavish welcome” to Xi, citing disagreements between Washington and Beijing.Other lawmakers have also urged Trump to remain firm in dealing with China, while acknowledging the need for continued engagement between the two countries.Xi is also expected to raise objections to a proposed US arms sale worth about $11 billion to Taiwan, which is still awaiting Trump’s approval.
