WASHINGTON
The U.S. and China kicked off two days of high-level discussions Tuesday amid tensions about cybersecurity and China’s island building in the South China Sea.
Vice President Joe Biden was frank about the differences between Washington and Beijing during an opening ceremony, but stressed the need for cooperation between the global heavyweights.
“We welcome fair and healthy competition,” Biden said. “On a level playing field, our growth contributes to yours, and your growth in China contributes to ours.
“But any country that relies on unhealthy practices to undermine healthy competitions with others ultimately limits itself,” he added, noting the need for a new rules-based systems "from cyberspace to outer space".
"Nations that use cyber technology as an economic weapon or profit from the theft of intellectual property are sacrificing tomorrow's gains for short-term gains today," said Biden.
Washington was recently hit with a cyberattack that targeted the personal information of at least 4 million current and former federal employees. The Obama administration has stopped short of openly blaming China for the attack citing an ongoing internal investigation.
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi said cybersecurity is “very important” in translated remarks.
"We will work with the United States and other countries to work in the spirit of openness to properly address the relevant issues,” he said, noting that he hopes the two-day gathering will achieve “positive outcomes.”
Secretary of State John Kerry said that the U.S. looks forward "to a very frank discussion about cybersecurity and other ongoing concerns.”
Among those concerns are China’s efforts to build islands atop reefs in the South China Sea, an effort that has roiled Beijing’s neighbors, and called into question the stability of maritime shipping lanes.
"Responsible countries adhere to international law and work together to keep international sea lanes open for unimpaired commerce,” Biden said. "Eighty percent of all the commerce today is on the back of a ship somewhere floating on the oceans.
"The notion of sea lanes being open and protected is even more crucial today than any time in human history, because of the interconnectiveness of the world,” he added.
Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang said “neither of us can afford the costs of non-cooperation or even all-out confrontation.
“Confrontation is a negative sum game in which both sides will pay heavy prices, and the world will suffer too. Talking to each other does not create win-win all the time, but both sides will lose in a case of confrontation,” said Wang.
