Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, clarified three bottom lines that China upholds and the U.S. should not challenge to prevent China-U.S. relations from moving out of control during his meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman on Monday. 

As China-U.S. relations currently face severe difficulties and challenges, the direction the two countries would go next, either towards confrontation or improved development, depends on the reflection and choice by the U.S., Wang said. 

During the meeting with Sherman, Wang presented to the U.S. China's bottom lines to prevent bilateral relations from going further downward. The U.S. should not challenge, smear and seek to subvert China's socialist system with Chinese characteristics, should not interrupt China's development or interfere in its sovereignty. 

He also emphasized that questions related to Xinjiang, Tibet or Hong Kong have never concerned human rights violations, but are all related to secessionist forces that cannot be tolerated in any country. When it comes to the question of Taiwan, it is one of China's core interests. The island is a part of the country, a fact that has never changed and never will. 

Wang hopes that the U.S. can have a correct understanding about China, give up its arrogance and bias and stop lecturing others. 

When the U.S. referred to the rule-based international order, Wang questioned its foundations adding that the U.S.-proposed international rule is designed by them along with other countries. In the face of high tariffs imposed on Chinese goods in violation of WTO rules and the unilateral sanctions that violate international regulations, the U.S. should be the one to reflect when it comes to follow international rules. 

"About where the bilateral relationship goes, China has been clear that the two countries need dialogue to find a way to coexist with different cultures and systems," Wang said, noting that it is hoped that the U.S. will have an objective and correct understanding of China by giving up its arrogance and bias and stop lecturing others. 

Sherman noted that the U.S. hopes that the two countries can coexist peacefully and the U.S. has no intention of suppressing China's development. The two sides can work together on a number of international issues such as climate change, fight against drug and regional issues. She also emphasized the one-China policy by saying that the U.S. does not support "Taiwan independence."

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