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Monday 12 noveMber 2018

China, U.S. sparring continues over South China Sea

By MATTHEW PENNINGTON “The Chinese side made it eas of common interest.
Associated Press clear to the United States “Competition does not
WASHINGTON (AP) — Chi- that it should stop send- mean hostility. Nor must
na bluntly told the United ing its vessels and military it lead to conflict,” Mattis
States to stop sending ships aircraft close to Chinese said.
and military aircraft close islands and reefs and stop Although the rescheduling
to islands claimed by Bei- actions that undermine of the dialogue signaled
jing in the South China Chinese authority and se- an effort by the two sides to
Sea, during talks that set curity interests,” said Pom- contain the slide in the re-
the stage for a meeting peo’s Chinese counterpart, lationship, it did not address
between President Donald Yang Jiechi, who also had the core dispute on trade.
Trump and President Xi Jin- sharp words over U.S. sup- Trump has slapped tariffs on
ping later this month. port for Taiwan. $250 billion in Chinese prod-
The U.S. pushed back Fri- However, Yang and Chi- ucts, in a push to narrow the
day, insisting it will continue nese defense minister Wei U.S. trade deficit and push
to “fly, sail and operate Fenghe spoke of the need back against what the U.S.
wherever international law to improve cooperation, views as predatory Chinese
allows.” In late September, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, shakes hands with including between the U.S. tactics on the high technol-
U.S. and Chinese vessels Chinese Politburo Member Yang Jiechi at the conclusion of a and Chinese militaries, to ogy industry. Beijing has re-
news conference at the State Department in Washington, Friday,
nearly collided near a dis- Nov. 9, 2018. ease the risk of conflict as taliated with tariffs on $110
puted reef. the two powers jockey for million worth of U.S. goods.
Despite the frank airing of pursuing a policy of Cold held in Beijing last month pre-eminence in the Asia- Yun Sun, a China expert at
differences at the meeting War containment with but were postponed after Pacific. the Stimson Center think
in Washington of the two China,” Secretary of State Washington announced “Cooperation is the only tank, said Beijing is uncer-
nations’ top diplomats and Mike Pompeo told report- new arms sales to Taiwan, option for us,” Wei said. tain about what exactly
military chiefs, both sides ers following the U.S.-China and after a Chinese de- “Confrontation and con- Trump wants out of a trade
stressed the need to tamp Diplomatic and Security stroyer came close to the flict between the two mili- deal, but hopes that with
down tensions, which have Dialogue. USS Decatur in late Septem- taries will spell disaster for us U.S. midterm elections out
flared amid a bitter trade “Rather we want to ensure ber in what the U.S. Navy all.” of the way, the mercurial
dispute that Trump and Xi that China acts responsi- called an “unsafe and un- Defense Secretary Jim American president may
are expected to tackle at bly and fairly in support of professional maneuver.” Mattis asserted U.S. rights be more inclined to reach
the Group of 20 summit in security and prosperity of Beijing has sweeping but to freedom of navigation a compromise.
Argentina. each of our two countries.” disputed sovereignty claims but also said the two sides “Their top priority is to stabi-
“The United States is not The talks were due to be in the area. should work together on ar- lize relations,” she said.q