Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the importance of cooperation between China and the United States for global peace and prosperity, while urging Washington to respect China’s core interests, particularly regarding Taiwan. Speaking in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, Wang highlighted that both countries, as major powers, should work together to address global challenges and shoulder their responsibilities in this new era.
Wang, who is also a member of the Communist Party of China’s Political Bureau, stressed that ensuring the two “giant ships” of China and the U.S. move forward in coordination requires adherence to the strategic guidance and consensus reached by both leaders. He expressed concern over recent U.S. actions and rhetoric that have undermined China’s legitimate rights and interests, interfered in its internal affairs, and harmed bilateral relations.
“The U.S. must exercise caution in its words and actions, especially on sensitive issues concerning China’s core interests such as Taiwan,” Wang stated, while reiterating China’s firm opposition to behavior that interferes in its sovereignty.
Wang also recalled the historic partnership between the two nations during World War II, when they fought together against militarism and fascism, and underscored that the two countries should once again collaborate to ensure global stability and shared development.
A readout of the call noted that both sides found the discussion “timely, necessary and fruitful,” agreeing to further strengthen head-of-state diplomacy, manage differences prudently, and explore areas for practical cooperation.
Chinese experts described the conversation as both a warning to the U.S. against destabilizing moves and a framework for constructive engagement. Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that the conversation conveyed a clear message: “For China-U.S. relations to remain stable and mutually beneficial, the U.S. must respect China’s core interests, especially regarding Taiwan.”
Li added that recent U.S. activities—including congressional visits to Taiwan and military exchanges—have intensified Beijing’s concerns and underscored the necessity of setting clear boundaries in managing bilateral relations.
In a related development, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held a video conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, reinforcing the need for mutual respect on key security issues. Dong warned that any attempt to support “Taiwan independence” or contain China through Taiwan would be doomed to fail, stating, “The U.S. cannot harm China’s core interests while expecting to gain other benefits from China.”
The high-level exchanges underscore Beijing’s position that cooperation must be built on mutual respect and non-interference, with clear red lines established to safeguard stability between the world’s two largest economies.
