US Secretary Antony Blinken to Meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Laos
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi next week in Laos as the country prepares to host senior officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Blinken mentioned that he regularly speaks with Wang to clarify each country’s intentions and avoid unintended conflicts. He highlighted the importance of clear communication, especially on topics like the South China Sea and Taiwan, during his address at the Aspen Security Forum.
Although the US and China are not ASEAN members, senior diplomats from both countries often attend related regional meetings and hold discussions on the sidelines.
Earlier, the US government advised American citizens in Taiwan to prepare for the annual air defense exercise, Wan An Number 47, scheduled for Monday to Thursday. The exercise will test the emergency notification system.
Blinken’s meeting with Wang in Vientiane, Laos, will follow China’s Third Plenum, a major policy meeting held by the ruling Communist Party in Beijing, focusing on technological power and national security.
ASEAN has announced plans to expedite negotiations with China on a code of conduct to reduce conflicts in the South China Sea, aiming to conclude talks by 2026. Blinken also noted rising tensions between China and the Philippines due to recent collisions near Second Thomas Shoal.
Doubts Revealed
US Secretary -: The US Secretary of State is a high-ranking official in the United States government who handles foreign affairs and represents the country in international matters.
Antony Blinken -: Antony Blinken is the current US Secretary of State. He helps manage the United States’ relationships with other countries.
Chinese Foreign Minister -: The Chinese Foreign Minister is a high-ranking official in China who handles the country’s foreign affairs and represents China in international matters.
Wang Yi -: Wang Yi is the current Chinese Foreign Minister. He helps manage China’s relationships with other countries.
Laos -: Laos is a small country in Southeast Asia, located near Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia.
ASEAN -: ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is a group of countries in Southeast Asia that work together on economic, political, and security issues.
South China Sea -: The South China Sea is a large sea in Southeast Asia. Many countries, including China, have disputes over who controls parts of it.
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island near China. China claims it as part of its territory, but Taiwan operates like an independent country.
Third Plenum -: The Third Plenum is a big meeting held by China’s leaders to discuss important issues like technology and national security.
Code of conduct -: A code of conduct is a set of rules that countries agree to follow. In this case, it is about how countries should behave in the South China Sea.
