In an effort to improve communication between the United States and China, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with China’s top foreign policy official, Wang Yi, in Beijing. These high-level diplomatic talks aim to rebuild channels of communication that were strained during a clash over a Chinese spy balloon earlier this year.
The talks took place at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, and it is expected that Mr. Blinken will also meet with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, later in the day. While the official meeting has not been formally announced, both American and Chinese officials have expressed optimism about the planning for it. The hope is that these two days of diplomacy will lead to future visits to China by other senior American officials.
This attempt to establish regular top-level diplomacy comes at a critical time in the relationship between the two nations. Bilateral relations between the United States and China are currently at their lowest point in decades. Tensions escalated in February when the Pentagon announced that a Chinese surveillance balloon was drifting across the United States, leading to American fighter jets being ordered to shoot it down.
Due to the uproar from U.S. lawmakers over the incident, Mr. Blinken canceled his scheduled visit to Beijing. This decision angered Chinese officials, who felt that the incident had undermined the progress made four months earlier in Bali, Indonesia, where President Biden and Mr. Xi had agreed to work towards stabilizing ties. The Chinese officials maintain that the balloon was launched for weather research purposes and had suffered from an accidental deviation from its intended course.
Relations were further strained when Mr. Blinken confronted Mr. Wang during the Munich Security Conference in February, accusing China of considering providing lethal support to Russia for its conflict in Ukraine. In response, China froze certain diplomatic exchanges and intensified its anti-American rhetoric.
However, during the recent meeting between Mr. Blinken and Mr. Wang, the two appeared to be cordial as they walked together through the statehouse compound. Similar to Mr. Blinken’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, the delegations from both governments sat facing each other at long tables.
According to official statements and briefings from the State Department, progress was made in rebuilding regular diplomacy during the seven-and-a-half-hour meeting between Mr. Blinken and Mr. Qin. The two governments agreed to establish working groups and facilitate diplomatic meetings on various issues, such as people-to-people exchanges and journalist visas. Additionally, they decided to expand direct flights between the United States and China.
While these two days of meetings may help halt the downward spiral in bilateral ties, experts emphasize that much more is needed to overcome the deep mistrust between the two nations. Nevertheless, the efforts to rebuild a foundation of high-level diplomacy are seen as a significant step forward.
Jessica Chen Weiss, a professor at Cornell University and former advisor in the State Department, emphasized that diplomacy is crucial in understanding the other side and resolving difficult issues. According to her, re-establishing communication channels is the minimum requirement to reduce the risk of miscalculation and crisis.
The Biden administration has sought to establish guardrails in contested areas like the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea; however, China has resisted these efforts and views its unpredictability as a deterrent against American patrols in the region. China blames the United States for the deterioration of bilateral ties, especially its perceived support for Taiwan and restrictions on advanced semiconductor chips and manufacturing equipment. Moreover, Beijing aims to counter Washington’s deepening defense ties with regional partners like Japan, Australia, and the Philippines.
China’s decision to meet with Mr. Blinken might be driven by pressure to stabilize relations due to its worsening economy and appeals from other countries to end the cycle of hostility. Additionally, if Mr. Xi chooses to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit in San Francisco in November, he may want to ensure a steady relationship.
Ryan Hass, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, believes that China needs to pivot towards more direct communication after months of blaming the United States for their problems. Beijing sees the importance of managing the relationship’s stresses and creating an opportunity for President Xi to meet with President Biden in the future.
In conclusion, the meetings between Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Chinese officials in Beijing aim to rebuild communication channels and alleviate tensions between the two nations. While progress has been made, more efforts are needed to regain trust and overcome the deep-rooted issues in the relationship. Establishing regular high-level diplomacy is seen as a crucial step to prevent further misunderstandings and potential crises.
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