reunification ambitions, and have threatened to retake the self—governing island of taiwan by force if necessary. the western response to ukraine and the economic pain being felt by russia would be figuring in their culture nations. figuring in their calcuations. stephen mcdonell, bbc news, beijing. all of this as the us and china have held talks that lasted for seven hours and were described as intense. i'm joined now by richard mcgregor, senior fellow for east asia at the lowy institute, who's in sydney. he has been watching the latest development. great to get you on the programme. these talks coming as the us has made these claims about the relationship between china and russia getting stronger. what do you make of these claims? weill. russia getting stronger. what do you make of these claims?— make of these claims? well, it's very interesting. _ make of these claims? well, it's very interesting. we _ make of these claims? well, it's very interesting. we don't - make of these claims? well, it's very interesting. we don't know| make of these claims? well, it's i very interesting. we don't know of course whether they're true. us