(AURN News) — During a press conference following high-level meetings with Chinese officials including President Xi Jinping in Beijing, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan responded to questions about Chinese interest in Vice President Kamala Harris’s role in U.S.-China relations. When asked if Chinese officials inquired about what a potential Harris administration might mean for U.S.-China relations, Sullivan declined to describe China’s specific questions.
“Every time I meet with Chinese officials, I raise the issue of election interference and laying down a clear marker that it’s unacceptable for any nation to interfere in the U.S. election. And this trip was no different in that regard. I made that point once again. I won’t characterize what the PRC’s questions were with respect to Vice President Harris. They’ll have to speak for themselves on that,” Sullivan stated.
However, he did comment on Harris’s involvement in U.S. foreign policy towards China. “Vice President Harris has been a central member of the Biden foreign policy team, a leading member, and has been part of the design and execution of the overall strategy in the Indo-Pacific and with respect to the responsible management of U.S.-China relations,” Sullivan said.
He also emphasized that Harris shares President Biden’s approach to U.S.-China relations. “What I will say is that Vice President Harris has been a central member of the Biden foreign policy team, a leading member, and has been part of the design and execution of the overall strategy in the Indo-Pacific and with respect to the responsible management of U.S.-China relations,” he said.
“She has had the opportunity to engage herself with President Xi and with Premier Li. So she is known to both of the top leaders in China. And she shares President Biden’s view that responsibly managing this competition, so it doesn’t veer into conflict or confrontation, is essential. And she also shares the view that maintaining high-level, open lines of communication is the way that you can achieve that responsible management,” he added.
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