On June 11, 2021, Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat, had a telephone call with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken.
An AP report, published on June 12, summarized that the phone call was another “sharply worded exchange” between Yang and Blinken. The call revealed a wide clash on a number of contentious issues, including freedom in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
However, the news article Xinhua published presented a one-sided report to its Chinese readers. Below is the summary of the Xinhua article.
The mainstream of Sino-US relations should be dialogue and cooperation. Cooperation should be mutually beneficial to both sides and resolve each other’s concerns in a balanced manner. China urges the U.S. to work with China to bring Sino-US relations back on track.
As to Taiwan, China urges the US to abide by the one-China principle, keep its promises, handle Taiwan-related issues in a prudent and proper manner, and take concrete actions to maintain the overall situation of China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
There is one international system and one type of multilateralism. They are based on the purposes and principles of the United Nation’s Charter. It is not up to a few countries to advocate their version of the system and order. Respect for sovereignty is a prerequisite for human rights. The U.S. should fix its own serious domestic human rights violations and not use any so-called human rights issues as an excuse to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
China actively participates in and supports the international effort to combat COVID 19 and firmly opposes any despicable acts that use the epidemic as an excuse to slander China and to shift blame. Some people in the United States have fabricated and peddled absurd stories claiming there was a Wuhan lab leak, which China is gravely concerned about. China urges the United States to respect facts and science, refrain from politicizing the tracing of COVID-19’s origin and concentrate on international anti-pandemic cooperation.
China will soon celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese people have made great achievements under the strong leadership of the Communist Party. They will unite more closely, work harder and unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. They will continue to build a more prosperous China and achieve the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Sources:
1. Xinhua, June 11, 2021
http://www.xinhuanet.com/2021-06/11/c_1127556040.htm
2. US News, June 12, 2021
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-06-12/china-us-diplomats-clash-over-human-rights-pandemic-origin
3. Department of State, June 11, 2021
https://www.state.gov/secretary-blinkens-call-with-politburo-member-yang/