Military official tells US’ Sullivan Taiwan is Beijing’s ‘uncrossable first red line’

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Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, (right) shakes hands with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan before a meeting at the Bayi building in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: AP

Yuanyue Dangin BeijingandJun Maiin Beijing

Published: 11:32am, 29 Aug 2024Updated: 1:30pm, 30 Aug 2024

Beijing’s most senior uniformed military official, Zhang Youxia, described Taiwan as the “the uncrossable first red line” in talks with visiting US national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

Zhang and Sullivan met in Beijing before the US official went into talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, the last day of Sullivan’s three-day trip to China.

Zhang, vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, is the most senior military official to meet a representative from the Biden administration.

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Sullivan is the first White House national security adviser to visit Beijing in eight years.

Zhang told Sullivan that Taiwan was “the heart of China’s core interests” as well as “the foundation of the political basis” of US-China relations, according to an article posted on the Chinese defence ministry’s website.

Zhang demanded that Washington stop its “military ties” with Taiwan, “stop arming Taiwan” and “stop spreading false narratives about Taiwan”, the article said.

“Resolutely opposing Taiwan independence and promoting reunification is the mission and duty of the People’s Liberation Army. We must respond to the reckless provocations of the Taiwan independence forces,” Zhang added.

Beijing regards Taiwan as part of China, to be reunified by force if necessary, and has repeatedly warned that this is the main “red line” in US-China relations that must not be crossed.