Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with China's leader, Xi Jinping, in Beijing on Friday, in an effort to mend the frayed relationship despite disputes over the economy, national security and conflict. Geopolitical conflicts in East Asia, the Middle East and Ukraine.
Both China and the United States said they hoped to make progress on a number of smaller, more pragmatic fronts, including improving communications. But they remain deadlocked on basic strategic issues, including trade policy and territorial conflicts in the South China Sea and Taiwan. . Both sides acknowledge the risk of the relationship slipping into deeper conflict.
The Biden administration is deeply concerned that cheap Chinese exports are threatening American jobs and is worried about China's support for Russia in the Ukraine war. And China has accused the United States of seeking to encircle Chinese interests in the Pacific.
Earlier in the day, Blinken spent more than five hours with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in meetings and a working lunch at the Diaoyu Tai State Guest House in Beijing.
In his remarks, Mr. Wang took a more conciliatory tone than before, telling Mr. Blinken that “the Sino-US relationship is starting to stabilize” and that the future of the relationship will depend on the decision decisions of both countries. During Mr. Blinken's visit last year, Mr. Wang blame because of the deterioration of relations with the United States, which he said required “self-reflection.”
But Mr. Wang also warned on Friday that negative elements in the relationship were still “increasing and building”.
“The relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions,” Mr. Wang said on Friday. “China's legitimate right to development has been unjustly suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges.”
Mr. Blinken responded: “I hope that we can make some progress on the issues where our presidents have agreed that we should cooperate, but also clarify our differences, our intentions and make clear to each other our views”.
Among other goals, American officials want China to make progress in stopping the flow of chemicals used to make fentanyl into the United States and increase communication between the respective countries' militaries to try Avoid accidents and misunderstandings. Chinese officials have said they will promote more cultural exchange between the countries and pressure the US to stop questioning Chinese students at the border.
In recent weeks, US officials began urgently raising concerns about China's economic aid to Russia. China denies supplying weapons to Russia's war effort, which Washington says would be a red line, but US officials say they are still boosting Russia's defense industry by selling The components can be used for civilian or military purposes.
