SECRETARY BLINKEN: I had a very productive and meaningful two days here in Cambodia. We still have a few meetings to go to this afternoon, but it’s been a very productive couple of days, and then we’re on our way, as you know, to the Philippines later today.
We discussed many issues here in Phnom Penh, but let me start with the situation in the Taiwan Strait. Yesterday the People’s Republic of China fired about a dozen missiles at Taiwan. They landed in the water to the northeast, east, and southeast of the island. Japan has reported that five of these missiles landed in its exclusive economic zone, which makes us all very worried. The People’s Liberation Army has now declared seven restricted areas around Taiwan and said it will extend military exercises until Monday.
These disturbing works are a great development. We have seen how Beijing has tried to change the situation in Taiwan for some time – for example, more than doubling the number of flights on the center that separates China and Taiwan in the last two years; pursuing economic coercion, political interference, cyber attacks on Taiwan. Now they have taken risky activities to a whole new level.
The US has sent the PRC time and time again that we do not seek and will not cause conflict. President Tsai also said the same. China chose to go overboard and use Pelosi’s visit as an excuse to increase military provocation in and around the Taiwan Strait. We expected that China would be able to take such measures. In fact, we have explained this very situation. The point is that the visit of the President of the Parliament was peaceful. There is no justification for this extreme, disproportionate, and escalating military response.
Let me say again, nothing has changed about our “One China” policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Committees, and the Six Declarations. We do not want unilateral changes to the status quo from all sides. We do not support Taiwan independence. We hope that the differences between each other will be resolved peacefully, not by force or force.
We are not alone in this. Yesterday, the ASEAN group released a statement about the need to calm the tension in the Taiwan Strait. The G7 rejected Beijing’s attempts to coerce and intimidate Taiwan. There is great concern not only for Taiwan, but also for the possibility that these actions by Beijing will disrupt the mainland.
For our part, America will not be angry. We will continue to do what we have been doing for a long time. We will support peace and stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific. You will see that in the coming days and weeks. We will stand with our friends and allies and we will work together and through regional organizations to allow friends in the region to make their own decisions, without coercion. We will take more steps to show our commitment to the security of our friends in the region, including Japan. We will rise, rise, and act wherever the laws of the world allow. We will continue to operate normal air and sea traffic through the Taiwan Strait, in line with our firm commitment to work with our friends and partners to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight, which has provided opportunities for the development of the region for many years. Almost half of the world’s container ships and almost 90 percent of the world’s large ships have passed through pressure this year. This is the one reason why these actions by Beijing are causing problems.
We will continue to support Taiwan in peace and stability. Secretary Austin ordered that the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan remain on station in the entire area to monitor the situation. In short, the world will see that we continue to support the situation in the Taiwan Strait and continue our joint policy throughout the Indo-Pacific. This is what the region needs from us: to be a stable and trustworthy leader.
Another major issue that was discussed was the conflict in Burma. The government’s execution of four pro-democracy activists despite the pleas of many people – including ASEAN Chairman, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the ASEAN Special Envoy – shocked and horrified people across the region and the world. one. I am calling on my fellow ministers to continue to pressurize the government of the country to end the violence it is doing, to release those who are detained illegally, and to allow the hearing services to be carried out. you, and to restore the foundations of Burmese democracy. Then we must increase the economic pressure, we must increase efforts to prevent the transfer of weapons and income to the government, we must insist on taking responsibility for the terrorism that has been committed, and we call loudly on the international community not to accept the plan of the government I make fake choices in advance. year. They cannot be free or fair in the present.
One of the participants of the summit of East Asian countries and the countries of the Asian region, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, visited with the leaders of the Burmese government a few days ago, where he called them friendly partners. This flies directly in the face of ASEAN’s efforts to end violence.
Regarding Russia, as we have said many times, the Kremlin did not just attack Ukraine; Also, the UN Charter and ASEAN’s Agreement of Trust and Cooperation, which include the principles of independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity for all countries, have been attacked. Russia is part of this agreement, because it is part of other agreements that it has signed for many years and now it has broken in Ukraine. It is in the interest of all countries and people in Southeast Asia, the Pacific region, and the world that the Kremlin puts an end to this oppression and its painful consequences around the world. We heard many countries here condemning Russia’s aggression, as they did in joining 141 countries in the United Nations for a UN resolution supporting Ukraine and calling for an end to it. terrorism.
I would like to thank Cambodia again for serving as the chair of ASEAN and for hosting us this week. The United States appreciates our cooperation with ASEAN on important and urgent issues, including combating COVID-19, addressing climate change, strengthening cybersecurity, ensuring freedom of navigation, supporting trade and it is not forbidden. We support ASEAN’s greater role in the region, and we are now looking forward to the summit in November, where we will launch the first strategic partnership between ASEAN and the United States.
A few hours ago, Yohannes Abraham, advisor to President Biden, was confirmed as our next ambassador to the US office in ASEAN. It will be a good partner for all our friends in ASEAN.
This is my first visit to Cambodia as Secretary of State. I have to tell you that I was impressed and very grateful for the friendly, warm Cambodian people that I had the opportunity to meet and interact with. And I am also happy to say thank you directly to the distinguished team of our embassy, led by Ambassador Patrick Murphy.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet with a group of alumni from our YSEALI program – the Southeast Asian Young Leaders Program. I met farmers and food producers from all over Cambodia who are our partners through the global food production program Feed the Future. In a meaningful and honest discussion with Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, we discussed the best way to ensure that all Cambodians enjoy a better future by protecting democratic rights, preserving independence of Cambodia, and seeking economic development. The United States looks forward to deepening our relationship with Cambodia in this and other areas. We are grateful for our long-standing friendship with the Cambodian people, and I thank Cambodia again for showing us such warmth and hospitality these past two days.
With that, I’m happy to take some questions.
MR PRICE: We’ll start with David Brunnstrom with Reuters.
QUESTION: Thank you very much. Mr. Secretary, I would like to follow up on your statement on Taiwan. We heard from the US side that dealings with China are continuing due to the deterioration of House Speaker Pelosi’s visit. Can you tell us how to do it right? We saw that Foreign Minister Wang Yi left the dinner yesterday, but he was at the EAS today. Have you ever interacted with him in Cambodia? And did the United States ask Taiwan to show restraint in relation to China’s military actions?
And one, if I may. We saw that you were cautious in your dinner with Foreign Minister Hayashi. Is this a show of solidarity with Japan after these missiles?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Let me start with the first – the last part of the first. Foreign Minister Hayashi is a colleague and colleague, and sometimes coincidentally just. We walk together because we talk together before eating. But regardless of that, we stand firm with our friends and allies, Japan, including the actions taken by China in launching these missiles, including five that, according to Japan , landed in its special economic zone. .
Regarding China very much, we have open channels of communication. When I had the opportunity to see Foreign Minister Wang Yi a few weeks ago in Bali, we had a long discussion at that time about Taiwan. The question of the possible visit of the President of the Parliament was raised, and I clarified to him the importance of not using this visit, if it decides to continue doing so, as a form of escalation or other activities with China. is doing now. , in fact, take.
In the meeting we had with all the foreign ministers of the Asian countries, we gave detailed information on the current situation in Taiwan and its surroundings, and I reiterated the issues that we presented publicly, and directly to their counterparts in the country. China these days. again about the fact that they should not use the visit as an excuse to incite, for inciting activities, that there is no possible justification for what they did, and he asked them to stop these activities.
But I think what is important is that this is not just our opinion. He has the opinion of many countries in this area. I will refer you to the statement that ASEAN itself issued yesterday. It is the opinion of countries beyond the region, including the G7 countries. You’ve seen the statement released by G7. And we expect China to consider the views of many countries around the world.
For our part, we are not looking for conflict, and we do not want it. We are ready to control what Beijing chooses to do; I think the same is true for everything else. And no one cares that this has escalated and there are all kinds of conflicts. But we expect Beijing to act properly.
MR PRICE: Hasanah Isa, PNN TV.
QUESTION: Good evening, sir. I am Sokheng Pa from VOD Khmer. I have a question, and thank you for your information. It doesn’t go to your state – (inaudible) Ministry of Foreign Affairs that you met with Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday, and you are asking him to reopen the civil and political arena before the 2023 election. Can you explain? What do you want Cambodia to do, right?
And the second question: Do you want to see the return of the CNRP and the return of Sam Rainsy and (inaudible) Kem Sokha, to participate in politics?
And the late – CNRP again, the last one is, if – yes. Thanks.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Thank you very much. Let me say two things. First of all, we had a long discussion about many issues with the prime minister yesterday. We have made it clear that our main goal is to have a good relationship between the United States and Cambodia, which we hope to deepen. But one of the things that hinders the strengthening of the relationship between our countries, is the ongoing concern of removing respect for human rights and weakening the democratic institutions here in Cambodia.
As a friend of Cambodia, we ask the authorities to uphold the international rights of the kingdom, its commitments to protect human rights, to protect human rights, including those that are also included in the Cambodian constitution. We expressed our concerns. I expressed our concerns directly to the prime minister, and we will continue to talk about supporting multi-party democracy. We do not focus on individuals, people, or parties. We focus on the process and ensure that this process is open, transparent, and allows for full and genuine participation from representatives of all Cambodians.
I should also mention that I raised a lot of issues about human rights, and we focused on this both in terms of systemic challenges and specific challenges. So I mentioned a lot of people where we have concerns, including the dual citizen, Seng Theary. And I met with Kem Sokha this morning, and this is, as you know, the main opposition leader. Also, the aim is not to support any particular person, but the principle of the need for democracy, the need to respect human rights, the need for an open, honest, participatory process that will only strengthen Cambodia – strengthening. by – strengthening it at home and strengthening it in the world.
MR PRICE: Edward Wong, New York Times.
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. You mentioned a number of ways that the United States could try and deal with some of the terrorism that you said you’ve seen from Beijing. All of these are military standards that you have introduced. And I think, in general, there has been a lot of talk from the US Government about new military alliances like AUKUS or alliances, maybe putting more missiles in the region, things like that. Do you think there is a difficult situation happening in the region, where soldiers from all sides are happening that could lead to conflicts?
And what do you say about the widespread criticism that the United States is refusing to sign valuable trade agreements in the region, so it has lost an economic aspect to compete with China here? People say that IPEF is a shadow of what TPP is.
And finally, do you have any comments about Brittany Griner’s decision yesterday in Moscow, and did you talk to Lavrov about this here? Lavrov told reporters this morning that he was surprised that there were no attempts to discuss various issues with him. Gratitude.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Great, thank you. First, conflict is inevitable, conflict is inevitable. On the contrary. I think it is necessary for us and it is necessary for China to work honestly and manage what is very powerful among us, and conduct the competition in a fair manner. This is an important part of the discussion I had with Wang Yi – the foreign minister, over five hours in Bali two weeks ago, and it is consistent with what I said today, including all ASEAN countries. colleagues.
I think what we are hearing in the region is the hope from all countries, almost all partners in ASEAN, to do the same. This is our responsibility. That’s why we made it clear that we don’t want, we don’t want, and we won’t take action to stir up conflict. We are calling on China to back off from the actions it has taken, which are very important to the peaceful visit of President Pelosi to Taiwan, and, I think, is exactly what they have been doing for years now. , which is becoming more and more effective. it is clear that they will no longer obey the status quo when it comes to Taiwan.
What we have said recently is the basis of Taiwan’s management of the region for more than four decades, successfully, in ensuring that it does not create conflict, and that the people of Taiwan will continue – do we have . He said that there is a need to resolve the differences between the mainland of Taiwan peacefully, not by force, not by force.
Therefore, it is necessary for China to continue to seek to resolve these differences peacefully, not to use force, or definitely to use force. But what we have seen in the last two years is that China is moving in this direction. And what we hear from the countries of the region is that what they want is the last thing.
I will also add, we spend a lot of time talking about the many challenges that our countries face together: the need, the desire that I think people in all our countries have to build a sustainable recovery from COVID, to move forward. to manage global health challenges, to address climate change, to meet the need for energy transitions and new energy sources. These are the kinds of things that the citizens expect us to work together. That is what America is determined to do.
What we don’t ask for, and what we don’t want, is the efforts of any country, whether China in relation to Taiwan or the South China Sea, or Russia in relation to its aggression against Ukraine. , I have disturbed international peace and security. because it is very dangerous, it violates the fundamental principles that complicate relations between countries – for example, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence – and it takes time, attention, and attention away from the interests of our people they want us to work together. Therefore, this is one of the cases that I have discussed today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and all our ASEAN colleagues.
Regarding trade, we introduced, as you know, the Indo-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and it received a positive response from more than a dozen countries that signed up to become founding members. And it’s been an open, inclusive process, and I think other countries will be involved. And what IPEF, as the acronym means, focuses on are economic areas that will be important for the economy of the 21st century. For example, digital trade. For example, security supply chains. For example, governance, anti-corruption, all of which are very important in the development of business and investment. Business management is also a part of that.
The response has been very positive, and we are now in the process of building it seriously with all the founding members, and organizing the various pillars of the Indo-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
Regarding Brittany Griner and Paul Whelan, a few things about that. I think, first of all, we all saw the verdict, the nine-year prison sentence for Brittany Griner, and that added to her injustice and her illegal detention. It highlights our serious concerns about Russia’s legal system and how the Russian government is using flawed systems to further its agenda, using people as politicians. The same goes for Paul Whelan.
We presented, as you know, a very important proposal that Russia should join us. And what Foreign Minister Lavrov said this morning, and he said publicly, is that they are ready to participate in the ways we have established to do that, and we will continue that.
MR PRICE: We will take the last question from Sorath Sorn, CamboJA.
QUESTION: Thank you. My name is Sorath from CamboJA News. I have a question about the election. After the next election, the opposition will sue the ruling party as the electoral commission. So what are your thoughts on this, and what are your hopes for Cambodia’s election next year? Thanks.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, one of the things – thank you. One of the things I shared with the Prime Minister and other Cambodian mediators is our expectation and, I think more importantly, the expectation of the Cambodian people that elections in Cambodia will be free and fair and truly participatory so that everyone everyone in Cambodia can be. representatives in elections and, depending on their results, in governance.
Our goal is not for any person or any party, not at all. As I said before, it is about process, making sure that there is a true democracy when it comes to elections in Cambodia. That’s what we’re looking for, that’s what I shared with the Prime Minister. Thanks.
MR PRICE: Thank you, Mr Secretary.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you, everyone.
