Beijing — The second day of crucial meetings between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and senior Chinese officials began with both sides expressing a willingness to engage in dialogue. However, there was little indication of a willingness to compromise on their hardened positions, which have led to heightened tensions.
Blinken had a three-hour meeting with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, followed by a scheduled meeting with President Xi Jinping. Blinken is set to depart in the late evening.
According to Chinese state media, Wang told Blinken that “China has no room to compromise or concede” on Taiwan. The statement emphasized China’s demand for the United States to respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposing any support for Taiwan’s independence.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Blinken’s visit coincides with a critical juncture in China-U.S. relations, presenting a choice between dialogue or confrontation, cooperation or conflict. It blamed the current low point in relations on the U.S.’s erroneous perception of China and urged the U.S. to correct its policies towards China to stabilize the relationship.
Although it was not anticipated that Blinken’s visit would lead to significant breakthroughs on contentious issues, the emphasis has been on establishing and maintaining better lines of communication between the two countries.
In his meeting with Wang, Blinken stressed the importance of responsibly managing competition between the United States and China by maintaining open channels of communication to prevent it from escalating into conflict.
In the initial round of talks, which took place on Sunday, Blinken spent nearly six hours discussing various issues with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. Both countries agreed to continue high-level discussions, with the understanding that there are still profound differences that need to be addressed.
Following the meeting, senior State Department officials revealed that the talks lasted for five and a half hours and were followed by a two-hour dinner. Both sides expressed a desire to stabilize the relationship and engaged in direct and candid discussions.
While China accepted an invitation for Qin to visit Washington, it made it clear that the China-U.S. relationship is currently at its lowest point since its establishment. This sentiment is shared by U.S. officials as well.
Blinken’s visit to China marks the highest-level engagement between the two countries since President Biden assumed office. The trip was initially planned for February but was postponed due to the shooting down of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the U.S.
Prior to his departure for Beijing, Blinken highlighted the need for clear communication to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications, as both Biden and Xi have committed to improve communication between the two nations.
The outcome of Blinken’s talks could potentially lead to a meeting between President Biden and President Xi in the near future. President Biden expressed his hope to meet with Xi in the coming months to address the numerous differences between the two countries, including trade, Taiwan, human rights conditions, Chinese military assertiveness, and Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
In addition to addressing these differences, Blinken urged the Chinese to release detained American citizens and take action to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that have contributed to the opioid crisis in the United States.
The State Department emphasized that the United States will always stand up for the interests and values of its people, working with allies and partners to promote a free, open, and rules-based international order. In response, the Chinese foreign ministry urged the U.S. to adopt an objective and rational perception of China, work together, uphold the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and handle unexpected events calmly and professionally.
President Xi hinted at a possible willingness to reduce tensions during a meeting with Bill Gates, stating that the United States and China can cooperate for the benefit of both countries.
Since the cancellation of Blinken’s trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements between the U.S. and China. CIA chief William Burns visited China in May, China’s commerce minister traveled to the U.S., and national security advisers from both countries met in Vienna. However, these engagements have been overshadowed by periods of angry rhetoric, particularly regarding Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific, Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and allegations of Chinese surveillance activities.
Furthermore, China’s defense minister rejected a meeting request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Singapore, signaling ongoing discontent. In response, the United States, Japan, and the Philippines held joint talks to strengthen their defense cooperation as a countermeasure to China’s growing influence.
At the same time, the Biden administration forged an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. China has been rapidly expanding its diplomatic presence in the Indian Ocean and Pacific island nations, with plans to open at least five new embassies in the next year. This development coincides with the establishment of the AUKUS nuclear partnership among the three countries.
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