China Complains to Blinken About “New Difficulties” Amid Strained Bilateral Relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang lamented Wednesday during a call with his American counterpart Antony Blinken the “new difficulties” in bilateral relations, and pointed the finger at Washington’s responsibility.

“Since the beginning of the year, China-US relations have faced new difficulties and challenges. It is clear who is responsible for this,” Qin Gang told his interlocutor, according to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“China’s solemn position”

Antony Blinken is due to visit this weekend in ChineUS officials said a few days ago, a visit that was postponed in February after a Chinese balloon incursion into US airspace.

Beijing-Washington ties have been strained in recent months due to several issues: the strengthening of ties between the United States and Taiwan, the rivalry in technologies or the treatment of the Uyghur minority in China.

“Qin Gang made explicit China’s solemn position on the Taiwan issue and other core concerns,” said the statement released by Beijing. “He stressed that the United States must respect (these concerns), stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and stop, in the name of competition, undermining China’s sovereignty, security and interests. development of China”, specifies the text.

Taiwan

China considers Taiwan to be one of its provinces, which it has not yet managed to reunify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Beijing is thus opposed to any official link between foreign countries and the Taiwanese authorities and accuses the United States of working in this direction, in defiance of their commitments.

“China hopes that the United States (…) will work with it to effectively manage differences, promote exchanges and cooperation, so as to stabilize China-US relations and bring them back to the path of healthy development. and regular,” Qin Gang told Antony Blinken.

chinese balloon

In January and February, a Chinese balloon had flown over the United States. The American authorities had then presented it as a “spy” aircraft, while Beijing had assured that it was a meteorological installation having deviated from its trajectory.

An American fighter plane finally shot down the aircraft, helping to strain bilateral relations. Antony Blinken’s visit this weekend, if confirmed, would be the first visit by a senior US diplomat to China since his predecessor Mike Pompeo’s trip in October 2018.

(AFP)Show comments