Blinken Commences Beijing Meetings to Ease Escalating US-China Tensions

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On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken initiated a series of crucial diplomatic talks in Beijing, aiming to defuse the mounting tensions between the United States and China, which have left the international community on edge.

Blinken began by engaging in an extended discussion with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, followed by a working dinner. On Monday, he is scheduled to hold further talks with Qin, as well as China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, and a potential meeting with President Xi Jinping.

At the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, both Blinken and Qin refrained from providing substantive comments to reporters as the meeting commenced.

However, the prospects for significant breakthroughs during Blinken’s visit remain slim, as the already strained relations between the two countries have steadily worsened in recent years. Disagreements and disputes over various issues, including trade with Taiwan, human rights in China and Hong Kong, Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea, and Russia’s actions in Ukraine, have contributed to the escalating animosity and recriminations, posing threats to global security and stability.

Notably, Blinken’s visit to China marks the highest-level American official’s trip since President Joe Biden assumed office and the first visit by a secretary of state in the past five years.

The decision for Blinken’s trip was made during a meeting between Biden and Xi in Bali last year. Originally scheduled for February, the visit was postponed due to diplomatic and political turmoil caused by the discovery of a Chinese spy balloon flying over the United States, which was subsequently shot down according to U.S. claims.

During his time in Beijing, Blinken will emphasize the release of detained American citizens and urge China to take action to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors, which contribute to the opioid crisis in the United States.

While U.S. officials have stated that Blinken will address these concerns, neither side has shown a willingness to compromise on their entrenched positions.

Before departing for China, Blinken underscored the significance of establishing and maintaining better lines of communication between the U.S. and China. He expressed the need to ensure that the competition between the two nations does not escalate into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings.

Biden and Xi have previously committed to improving communication to prevent misunderstandings and miscommunications. Xi hinted at a possible willingness to reduce tensions during a meeting with Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, stating that the United States and China can cooperate for the benefit of both countries and the entire human race.

Biden also expressed his hope for future meetings with Xi, where they can address their legitimate differences while finding ways to get along.

Opportunities for such meetings may arise during the Group of 20 leaders’ gathering in New Delhi in September and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November, hosted by the United States in San Francisco.

Since the cancellation of Blinken’s visit in February, there have been some high-level engagements between the U.S. and China. CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, and China’s commerce minister visited the U.S. Additionally, Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, met with Wang in Vienna in May.

However, these engagements have been marred by episodes of confrontational rhetoric from both sides, with disagreements over issues such as the Taiwan Strait, intentions in the Indo-Pacific, China’s stance on Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and U.S. allegations of China’s efforts to enhance global surveillance capabilities.

Earlier this month, China’s defense minister rejected a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, indicating persistent discontent.

Austin expressed confidence that he would eventually meet with his Chinese counterpart, but acknowledged that they have not reached that point yet.

Adding to the difficulties, China dismissed a report by a U.S. security firm that accused Chinese-linked hackers of targeting public agencies and other entities worldwide. China called the report “far-fetched and unprofessional” and countered by accusing Washington of carrying out hacking attacks while criticizing the cybersecurity industry for its lack of reporting on such incidents.

Recently, China reiterated its core concerns to the United States in a phone call between Qin and Blinken, urging the U.S. to respect China’s stance on Taiwan’s self-rule, stop interfering in its internal affairs, and avoid harming China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests in the name of competition.

In the midst of these tensions, the national security advisers of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines held their first joint talks and agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation as a response to China’s expanding influence and ambitions.

Simultaneously, the Biden administration reached an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. China has been rapidly expanding its diplomatic presence, particularly in the Indian Ocean and Pacific island nations, with plans to open at least five new embassies in the next year.

The agreement forms part of a nuclear partnership known as AUKUS, involving Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Prior to Blinken’s arrival, two U.S. officials downplayed expectations of significant progress during the visit. They emphasized that the primary goal was to restore a sense of calm and normalcy to high-level contacts between the two countries.

Daniel Kritenbrink, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific, stated that the U.S. approached the talks with a realistic and confident attitude, aiming to manage the competition between the two nations responsibly.

Kurt Campbell, the top Asia expert at the National Security Council, highlighted the importance of intense diplomacy to manage tensions resulting from the intense competition. He emphasized the need for clear communication, signaling, and cooperation whenever the interests of both nations align.

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This report includes contributions from Seung Min Kim, a writer at Big Big News in Washington.

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