China won’t give up any inch of territory: Xi tells Mattis

Beijing, June 28 (IANS) Chinese President Xi Jinping told visiting US Defence Secretary James Mattis that Beijing is committed to peace but will not give up “any inch of territory” in the Pacific Ocean, media reports said on Thursday.

“Our stance is steadfast and clear-cut when it comes to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” CNN quoted Xi as saying after his meeting with Mattis on Wednesday at the Great Hall of the People here.

“We cannot lose even one inch of the territory left behind by our ancestors… What is other people’s we do not want at all.”

Xi also said that despite disagreements in the Pacific over the South China Sea, “it has long been known that the real experts on military affairs do not want to employ military means to solve issues”.

Mattis however, said his talks with Xi and other officials on Wednesday had been “very, very” good, adding that the US was assigning a “high degree of importance to the military relationship” with China.

His meeting with Xi comes as relations between Washington and Beijing have been marred recently by rising tensions — not only by an impending trade war but also by both militaries viewing each other with increasing suspicion and alarm.

Mattis is the first Pentagon chief to visit China since 2014.

Addressing Mattis’ trip in light of ongoing tensions in the region during a press briefing on Wednesday evening, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said it was “natural that China and the US have differences in different times and aspects as two big countries”.

“The key part is solving the issues between the US and China with mutual respect. We have always believed that the bilateral relationship can benefit both countries and both peoples,” he added.

Following his Beijing visit, Mattis will travel to Seoul, where he will meet South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo. He will also meet with his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo.

China has welcomed President Donald Trump’s decision to halt large-scale US-South Korean joint military drills after his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un — but the Pentagon’s other moves in the region have prompted strong reactions from Beijing, CNN reported.

Mattis, a former Marine general, angered the Chinese government recently when he stressed the US military’s intention to continue “a steady drumbeat” of naval exercises to challenge Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Last month, the Pentagon disinvited China from participating in an annual multinational military drill, known as RimPac, blaming it on Beijing’s escalating militarisation in the South China Sea by deploying new missile systems on its man-made islands in the contested waters.

N.Korea reports 1st opposing votes in local elections in decades

Seoul, Nov 28 (IANS) North Korea on Tuesday said there were votes against candidates for deputies to local assemblies in the latest local elections, marking the first time in decades...

Nearing breakthrough: 58m debris removed, pipe pushed for Silkyara tunnel rescue, says NDMA

New Delhi: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Tuesday that the rescue operation in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi is "near a breakthrough", but not yet there as...

On eve of SC taking up case of Kerala Govt vs Guv, seven bills sent to President

Thiruvananthapuram: A day before the Supreme Court is set to take up the Kerala Government's case on how Governor Arif Mohammed Khan is holding back crucial bills passed by the...

Top industrialists offered to build Ram temple: VHP

Lucknow: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has said that country's top industrialists and business houses had approached it with offers to construct the Ram Temple in Ayodhya single-handedly after the...

Congress slams V-P Dhankhar for comparing PM Modi with Mahatma Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday launched a broadside against Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar for drawing parallels between Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a post on X, Congress leader...

‘Not satisfied with your illness’: SC refuses to entertain Senthil Balaji’s plea seeking medical bail

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a plea filed by jailed Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji seeking bail on medical grounds in connection with the alleged...

Gold prices rise to six-month high

Mumbai: Gold prices rose past a six-month high in the global market on Monday, as a weaker dollar and expectations of a pause in US interest rate hikes increased demand...

Gujarat battles freakish rainstorms, lightening deaths

Ahmedabad, Nov 27 (IANS) Gujarat is facing severe unseasonal weather conditions after the unexpected rainfall started on November 26. The officials said that at least 24 people have succumbed to...

Amit Shah alleges deal between Congress and BRS

Hyderabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday alleged that there is a deal between the Congress and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana. He claimed that under the deal,...

Netanyahu tours Gaza tunnel amid fragile truce, vows to eliminate Hamas

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured a tunnel in the besieged Gaza Strip and vowed to "eliminate" Hamas. "We are here in the (Gaza) Strip," Netanyahu was seen saying...

Model code violation: EC orders Telangana govt to stop disbursements under Rythu Bandhan Scheme

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Monday stopped the disbursement of Rythu Bandhu Scheme by Telangana government for violating the model code of conduct (MCC) and the conditions laid down...

Delhi chokes under blanket of smog, air quality plummets to ‘severe’ at several stations

New Delhi: A dense and noxious haze, commonly known as smog, enveloped Delhi on Monday, with the air quality plummeting to the 'severe' category at several monitoring stations across the...

Read Previous

Bad weather halts Amarnath Yatra

Read Next

Putin, Trump agree on summit in 3rd country

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com