/ world today news/ Blinken, US Secretary of State, is in China on a two-day visit. Much effort was made, mainly on the American side, for this meeting, and in a period of increased tension between the two major geopolitical powers. The world followed the meetings in Beijing with more than caution. Especially in relation to the likelihood of Blinken talking to Xi Jinping. There was no announcement of a face-to-face meeting until the last possible moment. It was publicly announced by the US side 30 minutes before Blinken was received by Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. It lasted from 16:34 local time until 17:09. Emphasized by officials in Beijing. As they say – signs for orientation. Certainly this last meeting is of key importance to Blinken’s visit itself, because if it had not happened, Washington would in all probability have taken it as something of a provocation. But this is not in the manner of the manners and policies of the Celestial. The signals are enough. And they started from the very arrival of Blinken in Beijing. He was met without a red carpet, without an official welcome. Only Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Tao, in charge of North American and Oceanian affairs at China’s Foreign Ministry, and the US ambassador to Beijing, Nicholas Burns, were at the airport.
Next is a meeting with Qing Gan, Foreign Minister, at the Diaoyutai State Guest House. A handshake, but no press release. Blinken had already announced that “the purpose of the visit is to responsibly manage relations between the two countries and avoid miscalculations.” The meeting between the two delegations lasted 5 hours and 30 minutes. Then there was a working dinner. Blinken is the most senior official to visit Beijing in at least 5 years. It is not emphasized, but preparation for a meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping is bound to be a topic of discussion. It is important at a time when the presidential election campaign in the United States is starting. There will certainly be dividends for Biden as an initiator of foreign policy through diplomatic means.
A statement from China’s Foreign Ministry said Qing Gan pointed out that “China/US relations are at the worst moment since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and this situation does not correspond to the interests of the two peoples and the expectations of the international community.” China has repeatedly stated that it views relations with the US within the framework of the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation set forth by Xi Jinping. According to Qing Gan, this should be the “common spirit and red line of relations”. He already has an invitation to visit Washington. But he emphasized categorically that “the Taiwan issue is China’s main interest, the most important issue and the most obvious risk in Sino-American relations”. Therefore, he calls on “the American side to adhere to the principle of a united China, to comply with its obligations under the three joint declarations, which are the basis of diplomatic relations, and to honor its commitments.”
For Blinken, it is important to demonstrate the rethinking of US policy towards China, and has therefore emphasized the importance of maintaining open channels of communication and diplomacy in various problem areas to avoid the risks of “misperceptions and calculations”. Almost like the China policy imposed by Kissinger under President Nixon. A policy that actually aimed at a split in Moscow/Beijing relations. The carrot was the opportunity for economic development and access to American markets. Successful, by the way, because China took good advantage of this strategy of Washington. The parties are now confirming their positions on the problem areas and have hardly reached a complete compromise. But confirmation of continued dialogue offers hope for a different world.
Immediately after the Blinken meetings in Beijing, Washington announced that an agreement had been reached that China would not provide weapons to Russia and would not assist it in carrying out its SVO in Ukraine. Was this, in fact, the main purpose of Blinken’s visit? It was believed that the visit was more of an “exploratory nature” for Washington because it was taking place during a difficult period of relations. Especially after the shooting down of that Chinese balloon in the US, which for the Americans was a “spy” and for the Chinese it was a balloon with a scientific purpose for climate research. No inspiring results were expected from Blinken’s visit to China, but assessments such as “constructive and useful talks”, as they write in Beijing, for the White House are sufficient as positive findings. The conversation with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, head of the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the CCP Central Committee, is also aimed at “making progress on the steps taken in recent months to restore diplomatic communications after the balloon crisis.” But there remains a doubt that existing problems, such as |Taiwan, for example, remain unresolved, and it cannot be hidden that mutual mistrust persists. Despite the kind words that were exchanged. Accusations such as “set up a Chinese intelligence station in Cuba”, the open admission that there is a prelude to a “new cold war” between the US and China, the presentation of the US as the “emperor of the world order” and the perception of China as the only threat to the American position of hegemon are those stumbling blocks that can hardly present relationships as problem-free. China has not yet extended an invitation to US Defense Secretary Austin to visit Beijing, despite his open desire to do so. Austin says that “at some point we will find a way to meet, but we haven’t gotten there yet.” Otherwise, at the Shangri-La in Singapore, Austin exchanged pleasantries with his Chinese counterpart, but without substantive discussions. The ongoing and Trump-inherited “trade wars with China” under Biden also contribute to the mistrust and slow steps of these powerful countries towards each other. Despite the optimism after Blinken’s visit. Still, the look on his face at all the meetings in Beijing speaks volumes for the analysis of a number of commentators. The difference in the way of reception and the exchange of words between Xi Jinping and personalities like Bill Gates or Elon Musk, who also visited China, is more than eloquent. Warm meetings that angered the so-called anti-Chinese party in the US. Xi Jinping described Gates as “an old friend who has contributed to China’s development.” But it is striking that in these meetings Xi Jinping addressed the American people instead of the Biden administration. Undoubtedly signal again.
The G-20 Summit will be held in India in September, followed by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, ATIS, in San Francisco in November. Blinken’s trip is therefore believed to be critical to facilitating a face-to-face summit between Biden and Xi Jinping at these summits. There will certainly be a question of building a NATO office in Tokyo, Japan, which China cannot help but perceive as a threat in the Asia-Pacific region and a direct intervention in territories that are important for the security of the Celestial Empire.
As can be seen, a turbulent period in geopolitics and very variable positions of the players. The important thing is to read the signals correctly and not to rush to conclusions, which more often correspond to the desire than to the actual situation. As for Russia policy, that is the work of Beijing and Moscow, not the conclusions of a visit by a secretary of state. Even if he is Blinken. Whatever Beijing decides, it will give the appropriate signals. President Xi Jinping has already announced the rest.
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