A bilateral meeting was held on Sept. 23 between President Barack Obama and China’s second-in-command, Wen Jiabao, at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. According to a Sept. 17 White House press briefing, the focus was on issues including “U.S.-China economic relations, global rebalancing, and North Korea.”
Obama and Wen gave a short speech following the meeting, where Obama stated the importance of the economy and regional peace and stability. Wen spoke briefly about cooperation and disagreements between the United States and China.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been trying to exercise more of an assertive tone in recent months, yet its threats have been largely ignored.
On the eve of his meeting with Obama, Wen stated in a speech that China could not afford to raise the value of its yuan, Reuters reported. The statement opposes demands of several U.S. politicians to allow the yuan to appreciate by 20 to 40 percent, and came amidst pending U.S. legislation of a bill that would penalize China for keeping its low currency.
In the same speech, Wen threatened retaliation against Japan if it does not release a Chinese trawler captain who is accused of ramming two Japanese coastguard ships near islands claimed by both countries.
China’s state-run media, Xinhua, reported that Wen would not meet with Japanese leaders at the U.N. conference.
Following Obama’s meeting with Wen, the president met with Japanese Prime Minister Kan to “reaffirm their mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral ties,” according to the press briefing.
The CCP has made similar threats against the United States in the past year.
When the regime demanded that the United States stay out of the South China Sea, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, “Consistent with customary international law, legitimate claims to maritime space in the South China Sea should be derived solely from legitimate claims to land features,” during a July 23 press conference.
The United States went ahead with joint military trainings with South Korea in international waters in the South China Sea, despite Beijing’s claims to it.
The United States also decided to move forward with its $6.4 billion arms deal with Taiwan despite the CCP’s threats of sanctions against American companies.
Obama and Wen gave a short speech following the meeting, where Obama stated the importance of the economy and regional peace and stability. Wen spoke briefly about cooperation and disagreements between the United States and China.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been trying to exercise more of an assertive tone in recent months, yet its threats have been largely ignored.
On the eve of his meeting with Obama, Wen stated in a speech that China could not afford to raise the value of its yuan, Reuters reported. The statement opposes demands of several U.S. politicians to allow the yuan to appreciate by 20 to 40 percent, and came amidst pending U.S. legislation of a bill that would penalize China for keeping its low currency.
In the same speech, Wen threatened retaliation against Japan if it does not release a Chinese trawler captain who is accused of ramming two Japanese coastguard ships near islands claimed by both countries.
China’s state-run media, Xinhua, reported that Wen would not meet with Japanese leaders at the U.N. conference.
Following Obama’s meeting with Wen, the president met with Japanese Prime Minister Kan to “reaffirm their mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral ties,” according to the press briefing.
The CCP has made similar threats against the United States in the past year.
When the regime demanded that the United States stay out of the South China Sea, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, “Consistent with customary international law, legitimate claims to maritime space in the South China Sea should be derived solely from legitimate claims to land features,” during a July 23 press conference.
The United States went ahead with joint military trainings with South Korea in international waters in the South China Sea, despite Beijing’s claims to it.
The United States also decided to move forward with its $6.4 billion arms deal with Taiwan despite the CCP’s threats of sanctions against American companies.
