US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Thursday met with a top Chinese military official on the third and final day of his visit to China, as the two countries strengthened communication in an effort to prevent differences over the South China Sea and Taiwan from spiralling into conflict.

Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, warned the US to stop "collusion" with Taiwan, saying the island is "the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations".

"China has always been committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," he said, according to a readout by Defence Ministry.

"But 'Taiwan independence' and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible."

Sullivan, for his part, stressed the importance of stability in the strait.

It was the first meeting between a vice chair of the Central Military Commission and a senior American official since 2018.

“Your request to meet with me shows the value you attach to military security and the relationship between our militaries,” Zhang told Sullivan in opening remarks earlier.

"I know it is rare that we have the opportunity to have this kind of exchange and given the state of the world and the need for us to responsibly manage US-China relations, I think it's a very important meeting," Sullivan replied.

Thursday's meeting followed the latest round of China-US strategic communication held by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Sullivan on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Xinhua News Agency described the discussions as "candid, substantive and constructive".

Wang said "China-US relations have experienced ups and downs, and that reviewing this experience and its lessons will help forge a better future and find the right way for the two major countries to get along with each other," Xinhua reported.

On Taiwan, the foreign minister said "Taiwan independence" poses the biggest risk to cross-strait peace and stability, and that Washington should adhere to the one-China principle and should not support "Taiwan independence".

Sullivan said China and the US should treat each other as equals, and that Washington has no intention of decoupling from Beijing.

Wang and Sullivan also agreed on arrangements for a video call between theatre leaders of the two militaries.

And the White House said both countries would plan for a phone call between President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in the coming weeks. (Agencies)
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Last updated: 2024-08-29 HKT 15:19