China and the United States should build “trust” in order to co-exist, Chinese defence minister Dong Jun said on October 31st, while warning Washington to be cautious in its approach to Taiwan.
Dong met his U.S. counterpart, Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth, on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian regional defence summit in Malaysia. The meeting came a day after presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump held talks in South Korea.
According to a readout from China’s defence ministry, Dong told Hegseth that
the unification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is an irresistible historical trend.
Dong urged that “the U.S. side should be cautious in its words and deeds on the Taiwan issue and take a clear-cut stance firmly opposing ‘Taiwan independence.’”
China regards self-governing Taiwan as part of its territory. Under its long-standing policy, the United States recognises only Beijing but continues to provide arms to Taipei for self-defence.
Dong also said both countries’ defence departments “should take concrete actions to implement the consensus reached by the heads of state,” adding that they should
strengthen policy-level dialogue to enhance trust and dispel uncertainty
and build a military relationship “characterised by equality, respect, peaceful coexistence and stable positive momentum.”
Hegseth described the meeting in Kuala Lumpur as “good and constructive.” He later told journalists: “I said to Admiral Dong as well, our position on Taiwan remains unchanged, and President Trump has said that as well.”
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