U.S. Department of State China Coordinator and Deputy Assistant Secretary for China and Taiwan Mark B. Lambert met virtually with People’s Republic of China (PRC) Director-General for Boundary and Ocean Affairs Hong Liang on May 23. The two sides discussed the current situation in the South China Sea and East China Sea, as well as other maritime issues. The United States raised concerns with the PRC’s dangerous and destabilizing actions interfering with other states’ exercise of high seas freedoms of navigation and reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad alliance commitments and steadfast support for upholding the international law of the sea. The United States reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and shared deep concerns regarding People’s Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. The consultation, which follows maritime discussions held in Beijing on November 3, 2023, is part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication to responsibly manage the U.S.-PRC relationship.
