BEIJING: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken commenced a crucial two-day diplomatic mission in Beijing on Sunday, engaging in high-stakes talks aimed at mitigating the escalating tensions between the United States and China that have caused global concerns.
Blinken’s visit began with an extensive discussion with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, followed by a working dinner. He is scheduled to hold further talks with Qin, as well as China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, and potentially President Xi Jinping on Monday.
The initial meeting between Blinken and Qin took place at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, with neither official making substantial comments to the press.
Although Blinken’s presence in Beijing signifies a notable development, the prospects for significant breakthroughs remain slim due to the already strained relationship between the two nations, which has grown increasingly contentious in recent years. The mounting animosity and recriminations have been fueled by a series of disagreements with implications for global security and stability.
As the highest-ranking American official to visit China since President Joe Biden assumed office, Blinken’s visit marks the first trip by a Secretary of State in five years. The decision for Blinken’s trip was made after a meeting between Biden and Xi Jinping last year in Bali. Initially planned for February, the trip was postponed due to the diplomatic and political upheaval surrounding the discovery of a Chinese spy balloon that the US claims was flying over its territory and was subsequently shot down.
Flashpoints Between US and China
The list of contentious issues and potential flashpoints between the two nations is extensive, encompassing trade relations with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong, Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea, and Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
During the talks, Blinken will also urge China to release detained American citizens and take measures to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors, which contribute to the opioid crisis in the United States.
US officials have stated that Blinken will address these concerns, although both sides have shown no indication of backing down from their entrenched positions.
Prior to his departure, Blinken stressed the significance of establishing and maintaining effective lines of communication between the US and China. He emphasized the need to ensure that the competitive dynamics between the two countries do not escalate into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings.
Biden and Xi had previously committed to improving communication channels to prevent potential misunderstandings and miscommunications. Xi hinted at a possible willingness to reduce tensions during a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates, stating that the US and China can cooperate for the benefit of both nations and the entire human race.
Biden expressed hope for future meetings with Xi to address legitimate differences and foster better relations. Opportunities for such meetings may arise during the Group of 20 leaders’ gathering in September in New Delhi and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November in San Francisco, which the United States is hosting.
Since the cancellation of Blinken’s visit in February, there have been some high-level engagements between the US and China, including visits by CIA chief William Burns and China’s commerce minister to each other’s respective countries. Additionally, Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with China’s top diplomat Wang in Vienna in May. However, these interactions have been punctuated by bursts of hostile rhetoric on various issues.
The complexity of the situation was highlighted when China rejected a report by a US security firm that attributed hacking attacks to Chinese-linked hackers, describing it as “far-fetched and unprofessional.” China has also accused the United States of carrying out hacking attacks and criticized the cybersecurity industry for not reporting on them.
