China's top diplomat to meet US national security advisor in Thailand amid Red Sea tension

By Anadolu staff

China on Friday confirmed that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Bangkok during a three-day visit to Thailand.

In a statement, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Foreign Minister Affairs Wang Yi will visit Thailand through Monday at the invitation of Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, the Thai deputy prime minister and foreign minister.

"As agreed between China and the US, Wang Yi will meet with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Bangkok," said Wang.

Earlier, The Financial Times reported that Wang and Sullivan will hold back-channel talks on Friday and Saturday in Thailand on stabilizing relations between Beijing and Washington.

The two senior officials also held two secret meetings last year in Vienna and Malta paving the way for President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden to meet last November, according to the report.

Relations between the US and China deteriorated during the Trump administration with a trade war and have since remained tense due to the conflict over Taiwan and an alleged Chinese spy balloon over the US.

However, tension has eased since Xi and Biden met last year as top military officials of two countries also held a virtual meeting in December for first time in over a year.

The meeting between Wang and Sullivan also comes after China called for a stop to attacks on civilian ships and urged the relevant parties to avoid adding fuel to the fire in the Red Sea.

On Monday US and British forces said they carried out strikes against eight Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the group’s attacks in the Red Sea.

Following the strikes, Yemen's Houthis vowed to retaliate as Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said: "These assaults won't go unpunished."

Tensions have escalated in the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel.

The Houthis say their attacks aim to pressure Israel to halt its deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid