Blinken arrives Beijing on high-stakes mission to cool soaring US-China tensions

41

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Beijing with a crucial mission to ease the escalating tensions between the United States and China. This visit holds significant importance as it marks the highest-level American official to travel to China since President Joe Biden took office, and it is the first trip by a secretary of state in five years.

Blinken’s schedule includes two days of talks with senior Chinese officials, commencing in the afternoon. However, the likelihood of achieving substantial breakthroughs on the most pressing issues between the world’s two largest economies is slim. Over the past few years, the relationship between the United States and China has become increasingly strained, with mounting animosity and accusations that have global implications for security and stability.

During his visit, Blinken intends to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sunday, as well as top diplomat Wang Yi and potentially President Xi Jinping on Monday, as stated by U.S. officials.

This diplomatic mission was agreed upon by Biden and Xi during a meeting in Bali last year. Initially scheduled for February, the trip was postponed due to the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the United States.

The list of contentious issues and potential conflicts between the two countries is extensive, ranging from trade disputes involving Taiwan, human rights concerns in China, and the situation in Hong Kong, to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea and Russia’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Blinken aims to address each of these issues during his discussions, although neither side has shown a willingness to compromise on their positions.

Before departing from Washington, Blinken emphasized the necessity of establishing and maintaining effective lines of communication between the U.S. and China. He expressed the desire to prevent the competition between the two countries from escalating into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings.

In a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates, President Xi hinted at a potential willingness to reduce tensions, suggesting that the United States and China can collaborate for the benefit of both nations and the world.

President Biden also expressed hope for future meetings with Xi to discuss their legitimate differences and find ways to foster a better relationship. Possible opportunities for dialogue 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 trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements between U.S. and Chinese officials. The CIA chief and China’s commerce minister have traveled to each other’s countries, and national security advisers from both sides have met. However, these interactions have been overshadowed by bursts of contentious rhetoric, particularly concerning Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific region, China’s stance on Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and cybersecurity concerns.

Amidst these tensions, China has rejected a report by a U.S. security firm that accused Chinese-linked hackers of carrying out cyberattacks worldwide. China responded by alleging that the United States engages in hacking attacks and criticized the cybersecurity industry for its lack of reporting on such incidents.

As Blinken embarks on this diplomatic mission, the United States, Japan, and the Philippines have held joint talks to strengthen their defense cooperation, partly in response to China’s expanding influence and ambitions. Concurrently, the Biden administration has entered into an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, reflecting efforts to counterbalance China’s diplomatic efforts in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific islands.

Although major progress during Blinken’s visit is not anticipated, U.S. officials emphasize the importance of restoring a sense of calm and normalcy to high-level contacts. They approach the talks with a realistic and confident mindset, aiming to manage competition responsibly through intense diplomacy that promotes effective communication and cooperation where interests align.

---

Contributions to this report were made by Seung Min Kim, a writer at Big Big News in Washington.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about US-China tensions

More about US-China tensions

• Antony Blinken’s Biography
• U.S.-China Relations
• China-U.S. Relations: An Overview of Issues
• U.S. Department of State – Secretary Blinken’s Travel to China
• Biden, Xi Agree to Antony Blinken’s Trip to China
• U.S.-China Relations: What’s Next?