China will bring up issues related to Taiwan and “arbitrary measures” like tariffs when US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan visits this week, a trip aimed at maintaining dialogue between the geopolitical rivals.

“The Chinese side will focus on raising serious concerns, articulating its position and laying out serious demands on issues related to the Taiwan question, the right to development and China’s strategic security,” the official Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday, citing a Foreign Ministry official.

Beijing would also raise “continuous arbitrary measures against China in the areas of tariffs, export control, investment review and unilateral sanctions” during Sullivan’s trip, which is scheduled for Tuesday to Thursday and include a meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Sullivan and Wang have met face-to-face every few months as part of President Joe Biden’s push to keep open lines of communication despite friction with China but the visit will be Sullivan’s first to the Asian nation as the president’s top national security aide.

Beijing has long complained about US measures to cut off China from high tech, including semiconductors, and the White House’s efforts to work with allies on security and economic issues. It has also expressed anger about Washington’s support for Taiwan, the democracy of 23 million people that Beijing has pledged to bring under its control someday.

Sullivan’s trip comes months before the US presidential election in November. A senior US official, who had earlier briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, said Sullivan will aim to make clear he won’t speak for the next administration, whoever may win.

Sullivan will raise US concerns over China’s continued backing of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces, and restate positions on the South China Sea and Taiwan, the senior official said. The US has not yet accused China of providing direct lethal support to Russia but has instead said Beijing is enabling the war by supporting the Russian defense-industrial base.

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have both said they’ll get tougher on Beijing, with Trump threatening across-the-board tariffs against all countries and a 60% duty on imports from China.

The Xinhua article also indicated that China would raise the topic of people-to-people exchanges, saying that “the US should work in the same direction with China and take more measures to facilitate the flow of people between the two countries.”

Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently pledged to bring 50,000 US students to China to stabilize ties but so far those efforts have been marked by scripted events lacking open dialogue.

Ambassador Nicholas Burns has also complained that Chinese security officials have interfered in US embassy and consulate efforts to host some 60 public events since November.

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China slams US for adding firms to export control list, vows action

China's Ministry of Commerce said on Sunday it strongly opposed a U.S. decision to add multiple Chinese entities to its export control list over Russia-related issues.

The United States on Friday added 105 Russian and Chinese firms to a trade restriction list over their alleged support of the Russian military.

The companies - 42 Chinese, 63 Russian and 18 from other countries - were targeted for reasons from sending U.S. electronics to Russian military-related parties to producing thousands of Shahed-136 drones for Russia to use in its invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. suppliers must get difficult-to-obtain licenses in order to ship to companies on the "entity list", as it is called.

China's ministry said the U.S. action disrupts the international trade order and hinders normal economic exchanges, adding China would take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights of its companies.

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Taiwan deputy foreign minister to attend Pacific Islands Forum

A deputy Taiwan foreign minister will attend this week's meeting of Pacific Islands leaders in Tonga, Taiwan's foreign ministry said on Sunday, as China and the United States jostle for influence in the region.

The Pacific is also an area of competition between Taipei and Beijing, as China whittles away at the number of countries which maintain formal diplomatic relations with Chinese-claimed Taiwan. Three countries - Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands - have stuck with Taiwan.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang would hold a summit with its three Pacific allies to strengthen its partnership with them and other "like-minded countries", a reference to Western democracies such as the United States and Australia.

In January, shortly after Lai Ching-te won election as Taiwan's new president, Nauru switched ties from Taipei to Beijing, in what Taiwan's government said was part of a sustained Chinese pressure campaign.

In 2018, Nauru, then still a ally of Taiwan's, blasted an "insolent" China for speaking out of turn at the Pacific Islands Forum. Nauru had recognised China before, between 2002 and 2005.

Taiwan has taken part in the forum since 1993 as a development partner under the name o f "Taiwan/Republic of China". The Republic of China is Taiwan's formal name.

China says democratically governed Taiwan is one of its provinces with no right to state-to-state ties, a position hotly disputed by the government in Taipei.

Climate change and security are expected to dominate discussions at this week's meeting of the 18 Pacific Islands leaders. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will also be going.

Taiwan and Tonga had diplomatic ties from 1972 until 1998 when the country switched recognition to Beijing and broke off relations with Taipei.

Only 12 countries now maintain official diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

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