MODERATOR: Thank you, everyone, and thank you for joining. So I think you all saw the invitation on the phone. I know some of you have been asking for the latest on China and Taiwan, so what we wanted to do today is to set up a quick call to kind of focus on what we’ve seen going on over the last few weeks. , and, of course, answer a few questions.
Just ground rules, this call is on the record. It is blocked – the contents of the call are suspended until the end of the call. And our speaker on the phone is Kurt Campbell, who is the Vice President and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific.
And my last note on this, before I turn it over to Kurt – I know there’s been a problem with the dial-in. We have numbers you can call when the call is over to listen to the call, and we will also have a transcript for everyone. So, again, I apologize for that mistake.
With that, I’ll turn it over to Kurt to start us off, and then we’ll take as many questions as we can.
MR. CAMPBELL: Thank you very much. And good afternoon, everyone. As part of our ongoing public engagement on China and Taiwan and after an eventful week last week, I’d like to spend a few minutes giving a brief summary today of where we are and how the United States is approaching China’s behavior, and then respond. your questions.
And let me just cut to the chase. Here’s how we see it: Last week, the PRC used the visit of the US Speaker of the House – a visit that is in line with our One China policy and has never happened before – as the first way to force an attack on Taiwan and try to change the situation, disrupt the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the wider area.
China has expanded, and its actions continue to be provocative, disturbing, and unprecedented. China has launched missiles into the waters around Taiwan. It declared exclusion zones around Taiwan that affected public, air, and sea traffic. It sought to destabilize the relationship between the PRC and Taiwan, which has been respected by both sides for more than 60 years as a buffer, with historic numbers of military crossings last week. It surrounded Taiwan with more than a dozen warships; even today, several warships remain around Taiwan. And it has imposed sanctions on Speaker Pelosi and her family, and taken economic measures to pressure Taiwan.
Our response to that behavior was smart, steady, and steady. We showed that we will not be bothered and made it clear to the world what the PRC was doing. President Reagan [Biden] ordered the USS Ronald Reagan to remain in port as the PRC continued its provocation activities. We continue to support Taiwan and our partners, many of whom – the G7, Australia, the UK, the EU, and ASEAN – have also expressed concern in public discourse. And we strengthened our ironclad alliances, as we did on August 9th with the air force engagement with Japan near Okinawa.
Throughout these past weeks, the United States has held to our most important long-term goals: maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the greater Indo-Pacific region. This is important for regional and global security and development. It’s in everything we need, and we’re committed to continuing to seek peace and stability going forward.
That commitment to peace and stability is why our policy towards Taiwan has remained the same for decades and in all regions. We remain committed to our One China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances. We oppose any unilateral change to the status quo from either side, and we do not support Taiwan’s independence, and we expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved through peaceful means.
China’s actions strongly contradict the goal of peace and stability. They are part of a strong pressure campaign against Taiwan, which has not yet ended, and which we expect will continue in the coming weeks and months. The purpose of this campaign is clear: to threaten and pressure Taiwan and reduce its strength.
We will continue to take calm and firm measures to maintain peace and stability in the face of Beijing’s ongoing efforts, and support Taiwan in accordance with our longstanding policies.
These measures, in different areas, will take place in the coming weeks and months because the problem is long-term. We won’t be mean or knee-jerk; we will be patient and successful.
We will continue to fly, sail, and operate where international law allows, consistent with our long-standing commitment to freedom of movement, and this includes conducting air and sea transit through the Taiwan Strait in the next few weeks.
We will continue to fulfill our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act. This includes supporting Taiwan’s self-defense and maintaining our ability to resist any form of coercion or other forms of coercion that could harm Taiwan’s security, economy, or society.
We will continue, in accordance with our One China policy, to deepen our relationship with Taiwan, including by continuing to develop our economic and trade relations. For example, we are developing an ambitious approach to trade negotiations, which we intend to announce in the coming days.
And we will make sure that our presence, posture, and exercises cause China’s aggressive and disruptive behavior, with the aim of leading the situation in the Western Pacific to greater stability.
There is more to come in these areas and more in the days and weeks ahead. Before I take your questions, I’ll just add a few more comments on our relationship with Beijing.
We have and will continue to keep the lines of communication open with Beijing, and we call on Beijing to reopen the channels it has closed – not because of us, but because this is what the country needs from responsible powers.
Which party decided to cut the risk reduction and risk communication mechanisms? China – on the other hand, in contrast, the United States continued to seek and seek to resolve the situation strategically.
Which party stopped the climate negotiations, not punishing the United States but the world? Again, the answer is China. The world’s largest emitter is refusing to take significant steps to combat the climate crisis. This will slow progress as the international community works towards a successful COP later this year.
We think these are wrong decisions by China.
Now, to conclude, what we are discussing today is not about the One China policy. We confirm that. Which party is disrupting the situation that supported peace and stability — peace and stability that worked for all people.
The international community has made it clear that it has an interest in peace and stability, and the United States will do our part to maintain it. This is not about U.S.-China dynamics; it is a question of what is best for the region and what is in the best interest of the international community.
I’ll be there, and I look forward to taking your questions.
MODERATOR: All right. Thanks, Kurt. Can we please give a way to ask a question? Thank you.
Q Thank you very much for doing this. The two are straight and one is large. You have confirmed the Freedom of Movement Act which you have publicly announced will not cover the airline. Can you confirm that the Chinese have cut off talks on other issues that they have not disclosed, including North Korea?
And the big question: You know, you say you don’t accept changes to the status; Beijing says openly that it is creating a normal. So what exactly can you do to reverse the situation? Thank you.
MR. CAMPBELL: Well, look, we don’t talk about the nature of our crossing or the time across the Taiwan Strait. So I don’t have anything about the Taiwan Strait crossing, Nick.
I think our statement makes it clear what our responses will be to China’s provocative actions to try to change the situation, and I think you will see more to come.
What is your second question? If only I could ask – I’m sorry, Nick – I – quickly?
MODERATOR: Can we reopen Nick’s line?
MR. CAMPBELL: I’m sorry, Nick.
Mr. Schifrin, if you press zero one more time, please.
MR. CAMPBELL: I’m sorry, Nick, I didn’t have my— my easy pen. So, if you can – your second question, please?
MODERATOR: I think – so I’m not sure if Nick was –
MODERATOR: — to be able to call. Oh.
OPERATOR: Yes, we have his line. One moment, please.
Mr. Schifrin, your line is open.
Q The second one simply said: Can you confirm that the Chinese have suspended negotiations on some issues that they have not publicly announced, including North Korea?
MR. CAMPBELL: So, Nick, I’d say we have open lines of communication, but they’ve been very clear about where they’ve stopped the conversation. And I don’t have anything other than that. And we are still in the early stages, and so we don’t know if China will take further steps.
Q Hello, Kurt. Thanks a lot. Good to see you.
MR. CAMPBELL: Hello, Michael, how are you? Thank you.
Q Good. Thank you. So, on the question of Taiwan’s arms trade – I mean, do you think that the new situation created by the PLA justifies a change in your approach to arms trade towards Taiwan? I mean, in particular, there have been criticisms that the administration is too focused on putting Taiwan in, say, an entry-level event with a loss of, like, a shutdown situation. So, I’m curious, – – your thinking on that is changing?
And in terms of cooperation with partners, is it possible for you to have more cooperation with the G7 countries or other Indo-Pacific partners on this? Could we see a – you know, some kind of organized Taiwan Strait movement in the future? Thank you.
MR. CAMPBELL: Yes, so, first of all, let me just say that what we’ve seen, over the last year in particular, is an unprecedented number of allies and partners speaking out, publicly and verbally, about their interest in seeing continued peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
And as I have shown today, there are a large number of countries that are very interested in maintaining that peace and stability. I will leave it at that, in terms of our consultation and engagement with our partners, in particular.
As I have indicated, the Taiwan Relations Act requires us to provide appropriate protection documents and capabilities to Taiwan. And those documents are designed to be fully interactive on defense issues related to the emerging security situation facing Taiwan. And so, the kinds of things that you described are taken into our calculus, and you’ll see that going forward.
Q Hello, Kurt. I have a question regarding the relationship between the two countries, and also one regarding China’s behavior in Taiwan. The Wall Street Journal reports that Chinese officials are planning for Xi Jinping to attend the G20 in Bali in November, and then to Bangkok for APEC. (Inaudible) and maybe meet with Biden. Are you also preparing for the President to meet with Xi? And is it Bali or Bangkok?
Now I have a second question. Would you like it now or after you answer it?
MR. CAMPBELL: Do you want to give me a second one, Ellen, so I can have it, and then – then I’ll write it down. Thank you.
Q All right, all right. So, China – China has clearly changed or, as you say, reduced (mysterious) around Taiwan. What is your policy objective given the PLA’s new tempo in Taiwan?
And secondly, how are you going to achieve that goal given the capabilities of the PLA and how good they are at (inaudible) gray zone squeezing games?
MR. CAMPBELL: Yes, thank you, Ellen. Those are good questions.
So, first of all – on the first question, I can confirm that the two leaders, when they spoke the last time, discussed a face-to-face meeting during their call and agreed that their teams should continue to address the specifics. We have nothing further in terms of information about time or place.
And again to your second question: Look, I tried to make it clear that our policy remains, in terms of taking the necessary measures for us and our expertise and working with our partners, to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
And what you’ve seen in the last year and a half is unprecedented integration with partners and partners. Many of these are related to our larger goals of maintaining peace and stability, and that includes changes in our deployments, our policies, and our actions. And I think you’ll see that continue as we go forward, Ellen.
MODERATOR: All right. Thank you, everyone. So, again, I’m sorry, we have a difficult stop, so we have to end the call here. But we will make sure to get everyone the text and audio link to listen.
As a reminder, this call was on the record, and the contents of the call – the embargo will lift on that after this call. Thanks again for joining.
With the U.S. Mission Egypt | 14 August, 2022 | Subjects: Publications
