(image courtesy of U.S. Department of Commerce via its official website)
European External Action Service (EEAS) Secretary General Stefano Sannino and Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell held this week in Brussels the seventh high-level meeting of the EU-US Dialogue on China and the sixth meeting of the EU-US High-Level Consultations on the Indo-Pacific.
During their dialogue on China, Secretary General Sannino and Deputy Secretary of State Campbell discussed recent EU and US engagement with China and the trajectory of their respective bilateral relationships. They reiterated their openness to continued substantive diplomacy with China both in areas of common interest and in areas of difference. They affirmed the importance of close coordination between the US and the EU in advancing shared objectives and democratic values and interests.
Among other issues they discussed, both sides expressed serious concern about tensions in the East and South China Seas and reiterated their strong opposition to recent actions by China that endanger the safety of life at sea and infringe upon freedom of navigation.
The two sides welcomed diplomatic efforts between the PRC and the Philippines, yet remained concerned about China’s dangerous and escalatory actions against lawful Philippines aerial and maritime operations in the South China Sea.
The principals recalled the June 14 Group of Seven Leaders’ statement, which reaffirmed that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and emphasized the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the vital importance of all states remaining free to exercise their rights and freedoms consistent with this international legal framework.
They reiterated that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016 is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings, and forms a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.
The United States and the European Union expressed their strong commitment to upholding peace, stability and international law in the region.
During their consultation meeting on Indo-Pacific, they also confirmed their shared commitment to building clean energy connectivity across the region. They discussed the US Smart and Secure Ports Program and EU Global Ports Safety Project, both supporting Indo-Pacific partners with port modernization, security, and safety, as well as their complementary programming to promote digital connectivity infrastructure and modernization in the Philippines.
Secretary General Sannino and Deputy Secretary of State Campbell reaffirmed the intent of the European External Action Service and the US Department of State to continue close coordination on China and the Indo-Pacific and to hold the next round of talks in Washington in the first half of 2025.
