White House's Sullivan, Chinese FM Wang Yi  to hold talks on bilateral ties, Taiwan in Bangkok 

China ties and Taiwan are expected topics to be discussed at a meeting between U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bangkok today. This meeting builds on a pledge by the leaders of the world’s two largest economies to deepen dialogue. The topics, including China’s relationship with the United States and the issue of Taiwan, are likely to be significant points of discussion in the ongoing diplomatic dialogue between the two nations. “During the new round of meetings, (Wang) will state China’s position on China-U.S. relations, including the Taiwan issue, and exchange views with the U.S. side on international and regional issues of common interest,” a ministry spokesperson told reporters at a regular press conference. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said their planned meeting “continues the commitment by both sides at the November 2023 Woodside Summit between President Biden and President Xi to maintain strategic communication and responsibly manage the relationship.” That summit meeting was seen as an effort to patch up frayed relations due to quarrels over a range of economic and geopolitical issues. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin confirmed that Wang Yi plans to meet with Sullivan. An immediate issue of concern to both countries is tensions in the Red Sea that have upended global trade by forcing many shippers to avoid the Suez Canal. The officials will meet on Friday and Saturday, a little more than two months after U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for about four hours on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. Biden and Xi agreed to open a presidential hotline, resume military-to-military communications, and work to curb fentanyl production but remained at odds over Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory over the strong objections of the Taipei government. Sullivan, who reports directly to Biden, met with Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Ankara on Friday, according to a statement from the Thai foreign ministry. Both sides discussed cooperation on security, clean energy, trade, and the crisis in Myanmar during the meeting.