US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived this morning in the Chinese capital Beijing, where he was the first to visit his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang. It is the most senior US visit since 2018 and comes at a time when the relationship between the United States and China is strained and both countries are willing to strengthen ties to prevent escalation.
LOOK. Blinken meets his counterpart Qin Gang
Blinken will spend two days in the Chinese capital. The menu includes a series of meetings with senior representatives of the Chinese government. Blinken also speaks with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi and possibly President Xi Jinping. Blinken’s visit is expected to pave the way for more high-level bilateral talks, possibly also between the two presidents.
Blinken was originally supposed to travel to China in February. That trip was postponed after a Chinese balloon flew into US airspace for days and was eventually shot down by the US Air Force. According to the US it was a spy balloon, according to China that is not correct.
“Frank” and “constructive” conversations
Talks between Blinken and Qin today were “candid” and “constructive,” the US State Department said after initial contacts in Beijing. Blinken has addressed a number of sore points in relations with China, according to the ministry, but has also discussed with Qin a number of areas in which Washington and Beijing could cooperate. Blinken has now invited Qin to pay a return visit to Washington. A suitable date is currently being sought for this, it is said in American circles.
For his part, Minister Qin Gang stated after the talk that Taiwan is “the greatest danger” in relations with the US. “The issue of Taiwan is a fundamental issue for China’s paramount interests and the most important issue in relations with the United States, and the greatest danger,” Qin told Blinken, according to state-run CCTV.
Tense relationship
Relations between the US and China have been severely strained over a slew of controversial issues. Among other things, China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, threats from Beijing to Taiwan and the ongoing trade dispute between the two countries are causing conflict. President Joe Biden’s administration sees China as the biggest geopolitical challenge and is cracking down on Beijing.
Chinese President Xi met with his US counterpart in November on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, after relations between the countries had already deteriorated. There they decided that their countries will communicate more with each other.
LOOK. US on the war in Ukraine: “China is not impartial”
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