US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with his counterpart, the China Gang, as part of his official visit to China.
The US Minister arrived in Beijing this morning for a two-day official visit. Blinken was welcomed at the airport by China’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North American and Oceania Affairs Yang Tao and US Ambassador to Beijing Nicolas Burns.
Blinken is the most senior official to arrive in Beijing since US President Joe Biden took office in early 2021, and the first US Secretary of State to visit China in 5 years. The most recent Donald Trump-era Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, visited Beijing in 2018.
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping decided that Blinken would visit Beijing during their meeting at the G20 Summit held in Indonesia’s Bali Island in November 2022, but the visit planned for February was at a high level of China. It was canceled due to the crisis experienced after the altitude balloon entered the American airspace.
Upon his arrival in Beijing, Blinken met with his counterpart, the China Gang, at the Diaoyutai State Guest House. The meeting between the delegations of the ministers lasted 5 and a half hours. The US and Chinese delegations also met at a working dinner after the meeting.
Emphasis on Taiwan issue
According to the statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Minister China Gang pointed out that China-US relations were at the worst point since the establishment of diplomatic ties, and that this situation was not in line with the interests of the two peoples and the expectations of the international community.Expressing that China sees its relations with the United States within the framework of the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi Jinping, China Gang emphasized that these principles should be the common spirit, goal and red line of relations.
Stating that they want to establish a stable, predictable and constructive relationship with the United States, China Gang said, “We hope the United States adopts an objective and rational view of China, works with China to preserve the political basis of relations and to handle unexpected individual events in a rational, calm and professional manner. ” said.
The Chinese Minister underlined that the parties should strive to put the relations in a stable direction again in accordance with the content and spirit of the understanding reached by the US and Chinese leaders during their meeting in Bali.
Stressing that the Taiwan issue is China’s most fundamental interest, its most important issue and the most obvious risk in Sino-US relations, the China Gang urged the US side to adhere to the one-China principle, its obligations in the Three Joint Declarations that form the basis of diplomatic relations, and “Taiwan’s independence”. urged to abide by its commitment “not to support it”.
Keeping communication channels open
In the statement made by the US Department of State, it was stated that Minister Blinken pointed out the importance of keeping communication channels open in different problem areas and diplomacy in order to avoid the risks of misperception and miscalculations.In the statement, Minister Blinken highlighted the many issues of concern in relations, as well as the possibilities of cooperation in transnational issues where interests conflict with China, adding, “Secretary of State said that the United States will always defend the interests and values of the American people, and that a free, open world and a rules-based It has made it clear that it will work with its allies and partners to defend the international order.” it was said.
In the statement, it was noted that Bilinken invited the China Gang to Washington for a visit to continue the dialogue.
During the meeting, the parties agreed to continue consultations on guiding principles in China-US relations, to address certain problems in relations with the joint working group, to promote interactions between peoples in the field of business and education.
Blinken is expected to meet tomorrow with China’s most senior diplomat, Wang Yi, Director of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Foreign Relations Commission Office, and President Xi Jinping.
Blinken is visiting Beijing at a time when economic and strategic competition between China and the USA has increased, current problems and tensions continue unsolved, and mutual distrust prevails in relations.
There are many problematic areas between the two countries, from the Taiwan issue to the military tension in the South China Sea, from economic and technological competition to the issue of human rights.
During the visit, the parties are expected to reiterate their positions on problematic areas, but it is not foreseen that a full consensus for a solution can be achieved in any area. However, the visit is important as the last link of the steps taken in recent months to restore diplomatic communication, which was interrupted after the balloon crisis.
The bubble crisis and the rupture of diplomacy
The US Department of Defense reported on February 3 that it was detected that a high-altitude intelligence balloon allegedly belonging to China was flying over the US mainland and passed over some sensitive military facilities in the state of Montana, including nuclear warheads and long-range missile depots.China claimed that the balloon was a civilian aircraft belonging to the country, was used for meteorological research, and because its control capability was limited, it accidentally entered the US airspace by being dragged by the winds.
While China’s statement did not satisfy Washington, Foreign Minister Antony Blinken canceled his planned visit to China.
On February 4, when the balloon rose above the Atlantic Ocean at the behest of President Joe Biden, it was shot down by a fighter jet in US territorial waters.
The Beijing administration had protested the United States for “interfering with the civilian drone by force”.
While diplomatic relations were largely cut off due to the crisis, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and CCP Central Foreign Relations Commission Office Director Vang Yi took steps to re-establish relations during their meeting in Vienna, Austria, on May 10-11.