Blinken visits Beijing to soothe US-China breakup fears. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Beijing this weekend with modest prospects of resolving the long-standing problems between the two nations. Analysts think he and his Chinese counterparts can show that the world’s most important bilateral relationship won’t collapse.
Sources stated Blinken may meet with Xi Jinping in China on June 18-19. He will be the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit China since Biden assumed office in January 2021.
In a pre-tour briefing on Wednesday, U.S. officials said they do not expect the trip to change U.S.-China relations. During a contentious phone chat, Qin Gang warned Blinken on Tuesday night to cease meddling in China’s affairs.
The visit might lead to a flurry of diplomatic engagements, including a meeting between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden later in the year.
“Both sides want to show the rest of the world that they are managing the relationship responsibly,” said German Marshall Fund Asia program senior fellow Andrew Small.
China prioritizes the global south. U.S. allies and partners. Even going through the motions benefits Washington and Beijing.”
Their deteriorating relations raise concerns that they could fight over Taiwan, which China claims. Trade, microchips, and human rights divide them.
Despite U.S. attempts, China’s unwillingness to allow regular military-to-military talks with Washington has worried its neighbors. On Wednesday, U.S. officials prioritized crisis communication to mitigate the danger.
“Anything that would lead to greater cooperation, greater dialogue and a lessening of tensions between Beijing and Washington is to be welcomed,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters Wednesday.
U.S. officials said Blinken’s main focus would be “candid, direct and constructive” discussions, but breakthroughs on significant concerns like fentanyl precursors and Americans held in China are unlikely.
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