BEIJING — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken started conferences in Beijing on Sunday, the primary prime American diplomat to go to China in 5 years, amid frosty bilateral ties and dim prospects for any breakthrough on the lengthy record of disputes between the world’s two largest economies.
Blinken, who postponed a February journey after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over US airspace, is the highest-ranking US authorities official to go to China since President Joe Biden took workplace in January 2021.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang greeted Blinken and his group on the door to a villa within the grounds of Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guest House, somewhat than contained in the constructing as is customary.
The two made small discuss as they walked in, Qin asking Blinken in English about his lengthy journey from Washington. They then shook fingers in entrance of a Chinese and an American flag.
After heading into a gathering room, neither Blinken nor Qin made feedback in entrance of reporters who have been briefly allowed in. Their assembly lasted for 5-1/2 hours, a State Department spokesperson mentioned, earlier than that they had moved to the working dinner.
Chinese assistant overseas minister Hua Chunying, who’s attending the assembly, tweeted above an image of Qin and Blinken shaking fingers: “Hope this meeting can help steer China-US relations back to what the two Presidents agreed upon in Bali.”
During his keep by means of Monday, Blinken can also be anticipated to satisfy with China’s prime diplomat Wang Yi and probably President Xi Jinping.
US officers have since final week performed down the prospect of a significant breakthrough in the course of the journey, however mentioned Blinken’s major purpose was to ascertain open and sturdy communication channels to make sure strategic rivalry between the 2 international locations doesn’t spiral into battle.
US officers and analysts count on Blinken’s go to will pave the best way for extra bilateral conferences between Washington and Beijing in coming months, together with attainable journeys by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. It might additionally set the stage for conferences between Xi and Biden at multilateral summits later within the 12 months.
Speaking with reporters on Sunday concerning the balloon incident in February, Biden mentioned he didn’t suppose the Chinese management knew a lot about the place the balloon was or what it did whereas including that he hoped to satisfy Xi quickly.
“I’m hoping that, over the next several months, I’ll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have but also how there’s areas we can get along,” Biden mentioned.
Biden and Xi held their long-awaited first face-to-face talks on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 massive economies in November on the Indonesian island of Bali, participating in blunt talks over Taiwan and North Korea but in addition pledging extra frequent communication.
While that assembly briefly eased worry of a brand new Cold War, the flight of the Chinese balloon over the United States just a few months later escalated pressure, and high-level communication since then has been uncommon.
Risk of miscalculation
Ties between the international locations have deteriorated throughout the board, elevating concern that they may in the future conflict militarily over the self-governed island of Taiwan, which China claims as its personal. They are additionally at odds over points as diverse as commerce, US efforts to carry again China’s semiconductor trade and Beijing’s human rights document.
Blinken’s go to may even be carefully adopted by the remainder of the world as any escalation between tremendous powers might have worldwide repercussions on something from monetary markets to commerce routes and practices and international provide chains.
“There’s a recognition on both sides that we do need to have senior-level channels of communication,” a senior State Department official instructed reporters throughout a refueling cease in Tokyo en path to Beijing.
“That we are at an important point in the relationship where I think reducing the risk of miscalculation, or as our Chinese friends often say, stopping the downward spiral in the relationship, is something that’s important,” the official mentioned.
Particularly alarming for China’s neighbors has been its reluctance to have interaction in common military-to-military talks with Washington.
Speaking at a press convention on Friday earlier than departing for Beijing, Blinken mentioned his journey had three primary targets: Setting up mechanisms for disaster administration, advancing US and allies’ pursuits and talking straight about associated issues, and exploring areas of potential cooperation.
He mentioned he would even be elevating the difficulty of US residents detained in China on fees Washington says are politically motivated.
Blinken and his delegation may even possible talk about growing industrial flights between the 2 international locations and stemming the move of fentanyl precursors from China, US officers have mentioned, however cautioned towards excessive expectations of success.
“Both sides are well aware of the current state of the bilateral relationship. We’re coming here in an effort to make sure that we can manage it responsibly,” one US official mentioned. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
