China’s new ambassador avoids queries on foreign minister’s disappearance amidst US and Taiwan tensions.

Chinese President⁢ Xi Jinping‍ Aims ‌to ⁣Prevent Taiwanese ⁣Vice President’s⁣ US Visit

According to‌ a⁢ top ⁢Chinese ambassador, ​Chinese⁢ President Xi⁣ Jinping is determined⁢ to stop Taiwanese Vice President⁣ Lai Ching-te from visiting the⁣ United⁤ States. The‌ ambassador ⁢characterizes ‍this potential trip as ⁢a ‌brewing⁢ crisis.

“The provocative, adventurist moves by Taiwan’s ⁤separatists should‍ be ⁤contained,” Ambassador ⁣Xie ​Feng said⁣ Wednesday. “And now the‌ priority for us‌ is ⁤to stop [Lai Ching-te] ‌from ⁢visiting⁢ the United States,⁤ which is like‌ a gray rhino charging at ‍us.”

Impending Visit ⁢and US Response

Lai reportedly plans to travel to Paraguay via⁣ the ‍United States‍ next⁤ month, following⁤ Taiwanese President Tsai ⁣Ing-wen’s⁢ transit ⁤through‌ New York and California earlier ‍this ‍year.‍ President Joe⁤ Biden’s ‌team ⁢has indicated that the passage ​should⁢ occur⁤ “without incident.” However, ​the new Chinese envoy​ to the ⁢United States​ attempted ‍to⁣ undermine⁣ this confidence ‍while also‍ projecting a cooperative⁢ stance during⁢ his⁢ debut at ‌the‍ Aspen Security Forum.

“We want to ⁣grow together with⁤ the United States… we ‌should​ say goodbye to the Cold⁤ War⁢ mentality,” he‌ said. “We should say goodbye to ⁤the zero-sum game, and‍ we‍ should avoid a major​ country conflict.”

Concerns over⁣ Chinese Foreign⁣ Minister’s Absence

During ​the conversation, the Chinese ambassador maintained a friendly ‌tone.​ However, ​when asked⁤ about the ‌absence of Chinese ⁢Foreign⁤ Minister Qin​ Gang, Xie became ​evasive.⁢ Qin⁣ has not‌ been seen in public for 23 days, ‍raising⁤ questions about ⁤his‌ status. ‍Chinese ⁣officials claimed​ he​ missed⁤ a meeting ⁤with​ Secretary of State ​Antony Blinken‍ due to health⁢ reasons and was replaced by Wang‍ Yi, the ⁣highest-ranking diplomat‍ of​ the Chinese Communist Party.

While‌ Beijing has ⁤kept ⁢information about Qin’s ⁢status under wraps, even the Chinese ⁢state⁣ media ecosystem⁣ has ⁤expressed discomfort with ‍the ‍silence.

China’s Perspective​ and US-China Relations

Chinese officials have praised Henry Kissinger’s recent visit to Beijing as ‍a ‍model for improving ‍US-China relations. They ​believe that⁢ Kissinger-style diplomatic wisdom and ⁣Nixon-style ‌political ⁣courage ⁢are⁣ necessary‍ to bring the⁢ relationship back ​on track after years‌ of tensions.

However, ‍the ⁢Chinese ambassador expressed concerns⁤ about ⁣Taiwan,⁢ which‌ Beijing claims​ as its sovereign‍ territory. He​ sees⁤ Taiwan’s⁢ separatist agenda and its⁢ pursuit ​of US support as‌ a ‌threat to ‌the optimistic⁤ outlook for US-China ⁤relations.

“Now the ‌two ​imposing ‍threats… is ​the ⁤Taiwan separatist advancing their separatist agenda, seeking U.S. support,” he said. ⁤“They ‍even do not admit they ⁣are Chinese. So this is ⁣a ‍very ⁢dangerous ​path they are ⁤taking. ⁢Second, is ⁢the United States playing‌ the Taiwan‍ card‌ to contain China.”