Top Chinese officer tells US to stop colluding with Taiwan in NSA meeting

A top Chinese military officer, in a rare meeting with a visiting American official, demanded Thursday that the United States stop collusion with Taiwan, the self-governing island that China says must come under its rule.

Gen. Zhang Youxia, one of two vice chairs of the Central Military Commission, told White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan that promoting what China calls the reunification of Taiwan with the mainland is the mission and responsibility of the military, according to a statement from China's Defence Ministry.

Sullivan was wrapping up a three-day trip to China, his first as national security adviser and one aimed at maintaining communication to avoid differences over Taiwan and other issues from spiralling into conflict. Both governments are eager to keep relations on an even keel ahead of a change in the US presidency in January.

Your request to meet with me shows the value you attach to military security and the relationship between our militaries, Zhang