China's US ambassador warns about 'red lines' ahead of Trump, Xi meeting

China's ambassador to the US, Xie Feng, warned of 'red lines' on Taiwan, human rights, and development rights ahead of a Washington summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Writing in the People's Daily, Xie said managing differences requires good faith and urged the US to stop using national security and other pretexts to constrain China. A separate commentary in the same newspaper attributed recent difficulties in bilateral relations to the US's 'erroneous perceptions' of China and its attachment to 'strategic competition.'

China's ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, issued a public warning on Wednesday about 'red lines' that cannot be crossed, ahead of a high-stakes summit in Washington between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Writing in the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, Xie identified four red lines: the Taiwan question, democracy and human rights, development paths and systems, and development rights. He said the US should stop 'fabricating pretexts' such as national security, economic imbalances, and forced labor to constrain China. A separate commentary in the same newspaper, under the pen name 'Zhong Sheng' (Voice of China), said the US's 'erroneous perceptions' of China and its unwillingness to let go of 'strategic competition' are the fundamental cause of recurring difficulties in bilateral relations. The commentary urged the US to maintain continuity and stability in its policies and honor its commitments. The summit comes as both sides seek to stabilize ties overshadowed by disputes over trade, Taiwan, and other issues.