In an unprecedented move, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is wrapping up a rare visit to Beijing, where he may meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This visit, the first by a US Secretary of State in half a decade, is aimed at preventing further deterioration of relations between the two strategic rivals.
Blinken engaged in over seven hours of “frank” and “constructive” discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. Despite the absence of tangible progress on contentious issues such as Taiwan, trade, human rights, and fentanyl, both parties expressed a mutual desire to stabilize relations.
Despite their “deep-seated” differences, Blinken and Qin agreed to continue their dialogue in Washington, although a specific date has not been set. Blinken is also scheduled to meet with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi. However, the potential meeting with President Xi Jinping is garnering the most attention.
While both parties deemed the talks constructive, they agreed on little else apart from maintaining dialogue and facilitating visits between their citizens. Following a lengthy meeting and dinner, both US and Chinese officials reiterated their aspiration for stable and predictable relations.
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China, however, underscored the significance of the Taiwan issue, labeling it as a potential flashpoint. Qin Gang emphasized that Taiwan is at the heart of China’s core interests and is the most critical and risky issue in Sino-US relations.
The deterioration of Sino-US relations has raised concerns about a potential military confrontation over Taiwan, a self-governed island claimed by China. Beijing’s reluctance to engage in regular military dialogues with Washington has further alarmed China’s neighbors.
During his inaugural visit to China since President Joe Biden took office, Blinken emphasized the need to mitigate the risk of misunderstandings and miscalculations. Despite the low expectations for a breakthrough on the numerous disputes between the two largest global economies, Blinken’s visit is expected to lay the groundwork for future bilateral meetings, potentially involving Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
This visit could also pave the way for discussions between Xi and Biden at multilateral summits later this year.
This news is based on a report by Malay Mail.
