{"id":8160,"date":"2023-06-18T18:20:04","date_gmt":"2023-06-18T17:20:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londonpost.news\/?p=8160"},"modified":"2023-06-18T18:31:49","modified_gmt":"2023-06-18T17:31:49","slug":"blinken-to-start-important-talks-in-beijing-to-ease-escalating-us-china-tensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/diplomatic-world\/blinken-to-start-important-talks-in-beijing-to-ease-escalating-us-china-tensions\/2023\/06\/18\/admin1\/","title":{"rendered":"Blinken to start important talks in Beijing to ease escalating US-China tensions"},"content":{"rendered":"

BEIJING<\/span> (AP)<\/span> –<\/span> US<\/span> Secretary<\/span> of<\/span> State<\/span> Anthony<\/span> Blinken<\/span> has<\/span> launched<\/span> a<\/span> two-day<\/span> diplomatic<\/span> mission<\/span> to<\/span> Beijing<\/span> to<\/span> ease<\/span> escalating<\/span> tensions<\/span> between<\/span> the<\/span> United<\/span> States<\/span> and<\/span> China.<\/span> These<\/span> high-risk<\/span> talks<\/span> are<\/span> aimed<\/span> at<\/span> addressing<\/span> the<\/span> growing<\/span> concerns<\/span> plaguing<\/span> the<\/span> world.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Mr.<\/span> Blinken’s<\/span> first<\/span> official<\/span> action<\/span> was<\/span> an<\/span> extensive<\/span> discussion<\/span> with<\/span> China’s<\/span> Foreign<\/span> Minister<\/span> Qin<\/span> Gang,<\/span> followed<\/span> by<\/span> a<\/span> working<\/span> lunch.<\/span> On<\/span> Monday,<\/span> he<\/span> will<\/span> hold<\/span> further<\/span> meetings<\/span> with<\/span> Qin,<\/span> as<\/span> well<\/span> as<\/span> China’s<\/span> top<\/span> diplomat,<\/span> Wang<\/span> Yi,<\/span> and<\/span> possibly<\/span> President<\/span> Xi<\/span> Jinping.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Neither<\/span> Blinken<\/span> nor<\/span> Qin<\/span> made<\/span> any<\/span> important<\/span> comments<\/span> to<\/span> reporters<\/span> during<\/span> the<\/span> diplomatic<\/span> talks<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> Diaoyutai<\/span> State<\/span> Guesthouse.<\/span> But<\/span> with<\/span> already<\/span> strained<\/span> relations<\/span> between<\/span> the<\/span> two<\/span> countries<\/span> slowly<\/span> deteriorating<\/span> in<\/span> recent<\/span> years,<\/span> prospects<\/span> for<\/span> significant<\/span> progress<\/span> during<\/span> Mr<\/span> Blinken’s<\/span> visit<\/span> remain<\/span> slim.<\/span> Ongoing<\/span> disagreements<\/span> have<\/span> far-reaching<\/span> implications<\/span> for<\/span> global<\/span> security<\/span> and<\/span> stability,<\/span> fueling<\/span> hostilities<\/span> and<\/span> heightening<\/span> tensions.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Blinken’s<\/span> visit<\/span> to<\/span> China<\/span> as<\/span> a<\/span> senior<\/span> U.S.<\/span> official<\/span> since<\/span> President<\/span> Joe<\/span> Biden<\/span> took<\/span> office<\/span> will<\/span> be<\/span> the<\/span> first<\/span> by<\/span> a<\/span> secretary<\/span> of<\/span> state<\/span> in<\/span> five<\/span> years.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Mr.<\/span> Blinken’s<\/span> visit<\/span> to<\/span> China<\/span> was<\/span> decided<\/span> at<\/span> a<\/span> meeting<\/span> between<\/span> Mr.<\/span> Biden<\/span> and<\/span> Mr.<\/span> Xi<\/span> in<\/span> Bali<\/span> last<\/span> year.<\/span> Originally<\/span> scheduled<\/span> for<\/span> February,<\/span> the<\/span> visit<\/span> was<\/span> postponed<\/span> after<\/span> a<\/span> Chinese<\/span> reconnaissance<\/span> balloon<\/span> flying<\/span> over<\/span> the<\/span> United<\/span> States<\/span> was<\/span> spotted<\/span> and<\/span> subsequently<\/span> shot<\/span> down.<\/span> The<\/span> list<\/span> of<\/span> controversial<\/span> issues<\/span> and<\/span> potential<\/span> conflicts<\/span> is<\/span> extensive<\/span> and<\/span> includes<\/span> trade<\/span> ties<\/span> with<\/span> Taiwan,<\/span> the<\/span> human<\/span> rights<\/span> situation<\/span> between<\/span> China<\/span> and<\/span> Hong<\/span> Kong,<\/span> China’s<\/span> military<\/span> power<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> South<\/span> China<\/span> Sea<\/span> and<\/span> Russia’s<\/span> involvement<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> war<\/span> in<\/span> Ukraine.<\/span> .<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>In<\/span> addition,<\/span> Mr.<\/span> Blinken<\/span> calls<\/span> on<\/span> China<\/span> to<\/span> release<\/span> imprisoned<\/span> American<\/span> citizens<\/span> and<\/span> take<\/span> steps<\/span> to<\/span> curb<\/span> the<\/span> production<\/span> and<\/span> export<\/span> of<\/span> fentanyl<\/span> precursors<\/span> that<\/span> contribute<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> US<\/span> opioid<\/span> crisis.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>U.S.<\/span> officials<\/span> have<\/span> said<\/span> Mr.<\/span> Blinken<\/span> will<\/span> address<\/span> these<\/span> issues<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> meeting,<\/span> but<\/span> neither<\/span> side<\/span> has<\/span> shown<\/span> any<\/span> willingness<\/span> to<\/span> compromise<\/span> its<\/span> steadfast<\/span> position.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Just<\/span> before<\/span> leaving<\/span> for<\/span> China,<\/span> Mr.<\/span> Blinken<\/span> emphasized<\/span> the<\/span> importance<\/span> of<\/span> building<\/span> and<\/span> maintaining<\/span> better<\/span> lines<\/span> of<\/span> communication<\/span> between<\/span> the<\/span> United<\/span> States<\/span> and<\/span> China.<\/span> He<\/span> expressed<\/span> his<\/span> willingness<\/span> to<\/span> prevent<\/span> competition<\/span> between<\/span> the<\/span> two<\/span> countries<\/span> from<\/span> escalating<\/span> into<\/span> conflict<\/span> due<\/span> to<\/span> misunderstandings<\/span> that<\/span> should<\/span> be<\/span> avoided.<\/span> Blinken<\/span> recalled<\/span> Biden<\/span> and<\/span> Xi<\/span> pledged<\/span> to<\/span> improve<\/span> communication<\/span> to<\/span> ensure<\/span> clarity<\/span> and<\/span> prevent<\/span> misunderstandings<\/span> and<\/span> misunderstandings.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

In<\/span> a<\/span> meeting<\/span> with<\/span> Microsoft<\/span> co-founder<\/span> Bill<\/span> Gates,<\/span> Xi<\/span> hinted<\/span> that<\/span> he<\/span> may<\/span> be<\/span> willing<\/span> to<\/span> ease<\/span> tensions.<\/span> He<\/span> said<\/span> the<\/span> United<\/span> States<\/span> and<\/span> China<\/span> can<\/span> work<\/span> together<\/span> for<\/span> the<\/span> benefit<\/span> of<\/span> both<\/span> countries<\/span> and<\/span> humanity<\/span> as<\/span> a<\/span> whole.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Biden<\/span> also<\/span> expressed<\/span> his<\/span> desire<\/span> to<\/span> meet<\/span> with<\/span> Xi<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> coming<\/span> months<\/span> to<\/span> discuss<\/span> their<\/span> legitimate<\/span> differences<\/span> and<\/span> find<\/span> ways<\/span> to<\/span> live<\/span> together.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Opportunities<\/span> for<\/span> such<\/span> meetings<\/span> could<\/span> arise<\/span> during<\/span> the<\/span> G20<\/span> summit<\/span> in<\/span> New<\/span> Delhi<\/span> in<\/span> September<\/span> or<\/span> during<\/span> the<\/span> US-hosted<\/span> Asia-Pacific<\/span> Economic<\/span> Cooperation<\/span> Conference<\/span> in<\/span> San<\/span> Francisco<\/span> in<\/span> November.<\/span> Although<\/span> Brinken’s<\/span> first<\/span> visit<\/span> in<\/span> February<\/span> was<\/span> cancelled,<\/span> high-level<\/span> talks<\/span> have<\/span> been<\/span> held<\/span> between<\/span> the<\/span> two<\/span> countries.<\/span> CIA<\/span> Director<\/span> William<\/span> Burns<\/span> visited<\/span> China<\/span> in<\/span> May<\/span> and<\/span> China’s<\/span> Trade<\/span> Minister<\/span> visited<\/span> the<\/span> United<\/span> States.<\/span> Biden’s<\/span> national<\/span> security<\/span> adviser,<\/span> Jake<\/span> Sullivan,<\/span> also<\/span> met<\/span> with<\/span> Wang<\/span> in<\/span> Vienna<\/span> in<\/span> May.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>These<\/span> exchanges,<\/span> however,<\/span> have<\/span> resulted<\/span> in<\/span> sporadic<\/span> outbursts<\/span> of<\/span> hostile<\/span> cross-strait<\/span> rhetoric,<\/span> intent<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> Indo-Pacific<\/span> region,<\/span> China’s<\/span> refusal<\/span> to<\/span> condemn<\/span> Russia’s<\/span> actions<\/span> in<\/span> Ukraine,<\/span> and<\/span> attempts<\/span> to<\/span> expand<\/span> its<\/span> surveillance<\/span> capabilities<\/span> globally.<\/span> It<\/span> has<\/span> been<\/span> undermined<\/span> by<\/span> US<\/span> condemnation<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> Chinese<\/span> government’s<\/span> efforts<\/span> to<\/span> Including<\/span> Cuba.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Earlier<\/span> this<\/span> month,<\/span> China’s<\/span> defense<\/span> minister<\/span> declined<\/span> a<\/span> request<\/span> from<\/span> US<\/span> Secretary<\/span> of<\/span> Defense<\/span> Lloyd<\/span> Austin<\/span> to<\/span> meet<\/span> alongside<\/span> a<\/span> security<\/span> symposium<\/span> in<\/span> Singapore,<\/span> signaling<\/span> continued<\/span> grievances.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Mr<\/span> Austin<\/span> expressed<\/span> confidence<\/span> that<\/span> he<\/span> would<\/span> eventually<\/span> meet<\/span> with<\/span> the<\/span> Chinese<\/span> side,<\/span> but<\/span> admitted<\/span> he<\/span> was<\/span> not<\/span> at<\/span> that<\/span> stage<\/span> yet.<\/span> Underscoring<\/span> the<\/span> difficulty,<\/span> China<\/span> dismissed<\/span> a<\/span> report<\/span> by<\/span> a<\/span> US<\/span> security<\/span> firm<\/span> that<\/span> attributed<\/span> attacks<\/span> on<\/span> numerous<\/span> public<\/span> facilities<\/span> and<\/span> institutions<\/span> around<\/span> the<\/span> world<\/span> to<\/span> hackers<\/span> with<\/span> ties<\/span> to<\/span> China.<\/span> The<\/span> allegations<\/span> have<\/span> been<\/span> described<\/span> as<\/span> “outlandish<\/span> and<\/span> unprofessional.”<\/span> China<\/span> also<\/span> accused<\/span> the<\/span> US<\/span> government<\/span> of<\/span> carrying<\/span> out<\/span> the<\/span> hacking<\/span> attack<\/span> and<\/span> criticized<\/span> the<\/span> cybersecurity<\/span> industry<\/span> for<\/span> its<\/span> selective<\/span> coverage.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>In<\/span> a<\/span> similar<\/span> exchange<\/span> earlier<\/span> this<\/span> week,<\/span> Mr.<\/span> Qin<\/span> called<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> United<\/span> States<\/span> to<\/span> respect<\/span> China’s<\/span> core<\/span> concerns,<\/span> including<\/span> Taiwan’s<\/span> autonomy,<\/span> and<\/span> to<\/span> stop<\/span> interfering<\/span> in<\/span> China’s<\/span> internal<\/span> affairs,<\/span> while<\/span> urging<\/span> China’s<\/span> sovereignty,<\/span> security<\/span> and<\/span> It<\/span> warned<\/span> against<\/span> acts<\/span> that<\/span> infringe<\/span> on<\/span> national<\/span> security<\/span> and<\/span> development<\/span> interests.<\/span> China<\/span> tarnishes<\/span> the<\/span> name<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> competition.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Meanwhile,<\/span> the<\/span> national<\/span> security<\/span> advisers<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> United<\/span> States,<\/span> Japan<\/span> and<\/span> the<\/span> Philippines<\/span> held<\/span> their<\/span> first<\/span> joint<\/span> meeting<\/span> and<\/span> agreed<\/span> to<\/span> strengthen<\/span> defense<\/span> cooperation.<\/span> The<\/span> move<\/span> is<\/span> aimed<\/span> at<\/span> countering<\/span> China’s<\/span> growing<\/span> influence<\/span> and<\/span> ambitions.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>At<\/span> the<\/span> same<\/span> time,<\/span> the<\/span> Biden<\/span> administration<\/span> reached<\/span> an<\/span> agreement<\/span> with<\/span> Australia<\/span> and<\/span> Britain<\/span> to<\/span> deploy<\/span> nuclear<\/span> submarines<\/span> to<\/span> Australia.<\/span> China<\/span> is<\/span> rapidly<\/span> expanding<\/span> its<\/span> diplomatic<\/span> presence,<\/span> especially<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> Indian<\/span> and<\/span> Pacific<\/span> island<\/span> nations,<\/span> and<\/span> plans<\/span> to<\/span> open<\/span> at<\/span> least<\/span> five<\/span> new<\/span> embassies<\/span> next<\/span> year.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The<\/span> contract<\/span> is<\/span> part<\/span> of<\/span> an<\/span> 18-month<\/span> nuclear<\/span> partnership<\/span> called<\/span> AUKUS<\/span> representing<\/span> Australia,<\/span> the<\/span> UK<\/span> and<\/span> the<\/span> US.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BEIJING (AP) – US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has launched a two-day diplomatic mission to Beijing to ease escalating tensions between the United States and China. These high-risk talks are aimed at addressing the growing concerns plaguing the world. Mr. Blinken’s first official action was an extensive discussion with China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang, […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8164,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":""},"categories":[24,26,2425,2480],"tags":[77,152,188,741,821,6656,6657,6658],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/USCHNA.jpeg","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8160"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8160"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8160\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8165,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8160\/revisions\/8165"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}