PLA Will 'Reunify' Taiwan: Chinese General Confronted Sullivan Just Before Surprise Xi Meeting

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, marking the first such trip for a sitting US national security adviser in eight years. Before the meeting, Sullivan was confronted by Gen. Zhang Youxia, one of China's vice chairs of the Central Military Commission, who stated that reunifying Taiwan with the mainland is the mission and responsibility of the Chinese PLA military and won't be deterred. Sullivan appeared nervous and unsettled during the encounter, while Zhang was confident and beaming. Sullivan responded by emphasizing the need for responsible management of US-China relations. Xi Jinping expressed his commitment to a stable, healthy, and sustainable China-US relationship, despite acknowledging great changes in the two countries and their relations. The meeting came after Sullivan's three-day trip to Beijing, which included discussions on managing competition and avoiding direct conflict. The surprise meeting with Xi was reported to be surprisingly conciliatory, with no known plans for the two leaders to meet again in person before the US election in November.