US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Beijing for a two-day visit and is meeting with China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang, marking the first visit by an American diplomat to China in nearly five years. The talks between the two countries aim to stabilize the highly strained relationship.
The primary goal of the discussions, according to US officials, is to reestablish lines of communication at a high level and work towards stabilizing the relationship, which has faced significant tensions. The visit comes after a delay of almost five months due to a suspected Chinese spy balloon incident in US airspace.
Both the US and China have downplayed expectations for the talks, indicating that no major breakthrough is anticipated. However, a key objective is to restore a foundation for dialogue and cooperation following the strained relations caused by the balloon incident.
One of the key issues that may be addressed during the talks is China’s military exercises near Taiwan, a matter of concern for the US due to its close ties with Taiwan’s democratically-elected government. Additionally, the discussions may cover topics such as the conflict in Ukraine, trade disputes related to advanced computer technologies, the fentanyl drug epidemic in the US, and Chinese human rights conduct.
Chinese officials have expressed skepticism about the sincerity of the US’s efforts to mend relations, maintaining a cautious approach. It remains uncertain whether Antony Blinken will have a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit.
As the highest-ranking US government official to visit China since President Joe Biden assumed office, Blinken stressed the importance of communication to prevent the competition between the two nations from escalating into conflict. He expressed hope for a meeting with President Xi in the coming months.
While a previous meeting between President Biden and Xi Jinping in Bali provided some respite from concerns of a new Cold War, high-level communication has been scarce since the balloon incident. The talks between Blinken and Chinese officials are seen as a crucial step in rebuilding trust and managing the complex relationship between the two global powers.