BEIJING —U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken recently met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in an attempt to improve the deteriorating U.S.-China relations. Although they agreed to "stabilize" the relationship, Blinken's request for better military communications between the two countries was rejected by China. The U.S. considers such communication crucial to prevent misunderstandings and potential conflicts, especially concerning Taiwan.
Despite the setback on military contacts, Yang Tao, China's main diplomat for the Western Hemisphere, viewed Blinken's visit as a fresh start. He attributed the difficulty in military exchanges to U.S. sanctions, which Blinken stated were imposed solely due to threats to American security.
Blinken and Xi expressed satisfaction with the progress made during the talks without specifying particular areas of agreement, except for a mutual decision to resume a broad agenda for cooperation and competition that was endorsed by Xi and President Joe Biden during a previous summit in Bali.
However, no major breakthroughs were achieved on key issues such as trade, Taiwan, human rights, and military assertiveness. Blinken stressed the need for better military communication but was rebuffed by China. Despite the limited progress, President Biden praised Blinken's efforts. China has been unresponsive to multiple requests from the U.S. for high-level dialogues. Both sides expressed a willingness to continue talks and emphasized the importance of restarting the Bali agenda.
During a 35-minute meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Antony Blinken emphasized the need for the United States and China to manage their relationship responsibly. He stated that both countries have an obligation to do so, as it is in their own interests as well as the interest of the world. Blinken described his earlier discussions with Chinese officials as open and productive.
Although Blinken's visit to China carried symbolic significance, he and other U.S. officials had downplayed the expectation of major breakthroughs on the challenging issues that affect the world's two largest economies.
The talks between Blinken and Chinese officials produced harsh assessments from both sides, with China blaming the U.S. for the low point in relations and demanding policy changes. The U.S. stressed the importance of responsible competition management and open communication channels.
Blinken's discussions covered various issues, including the release of detained Americans and curbing fentanyl precursor production. Both countries expressed willingness to continue high-level discussions, but the overall sentiment remained that bilateral relations were at their lowest point.
Recent engagements between the two nations have been accompanied by tense rhetoric on topics such as Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific region, Russia's actions in Ukraine, and China's alleged surveillance efforts. Additionally, China's defense minister declined a meeting with the U.S. Defense Secretary at a recent security symposium in Singapore, indicating ongoing discontent between the two countries.