China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, told U. S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday that the two countries should develop ties in the proper direction, amid unease in Beijing over U. S. President-elect Donald Trump’s comments on Taiwan and trade.
Trump, due to take office on Jan. 20, has angered China by speaking by telephone to Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, casting doubt on the incoming administration’s commitment to only recognizing the Beijing government, and not Taiwan, under a “one China” policy.
Trump has left open the possibility of meeting Tsai if she visits the United States after he is sworn in. He also has rattled Beijing by appointing people in his administration who are critical of China’s trade practices.
Wang told Kerry ties were at an “important stage” and that cooperative achievements were “not easy to come by. ”
“Both sides should take great care to jointly safeguard and ensure the proper direction of development in bilateral relations,” Wang said in a telephone call with Kerry, according to a statement on his ministry’s website.
