First visit in five years: Does this photo end the ice age between the US and China?

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Despite serious tensions between the two superpowers, Chinese head of state and party leader Xi Jinping (70) received US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (61) on Monday. This is reported by Chinese state television.

Monday’s surprise meeting in Beijing is unusual in terms of protocol. It can be seen as a special gesture towards the US. The first visit by a US secretary of state since 2018 comes amid stark differences between the world’s two largest economies. Beijing had also cut communication channels.

Blinken had previously held extensive talks with China’s top foreign policy leader Wang Yi. In the power hierarchy, he is above Secretary of State Qin Gang (57), with whom the US Secretary of State had a seven-and-a-half-hour conference on Sunday. After a long radio silence, both sides resumed direct high-level dialogue with the meetings. Official statements from both sides largely unanimously described the talks as frank, in-depth and constructive.

Visit canceled due to spy balloons

It is the first visit by a US secretary of state to China in five years. Relations between Washington and Beijing have deteriorated significantly in recent years over trade and human rights issues, relations with Taiwan and a host of other issues. Disputes between the world’s two largest economies keep recurring on other occasions as well.

Blinken canceled a planned trip to China at short notice in early February after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over the United States for days and was then shot down, sparking a scandal between Washington and Beijing.

“Constructive and honest” discussions

According to their own statements, US diplomats did not expect a major breakthrough from the Beijing talks. They hope to reopen regular communication channels to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to conflict. Both countries announced on Sunday that Qin had accepted an invitation for a return visit to Washington.

After Sunday’s meeting, the US delegation spoke of “constructive and fair” talks between the two ministers. According to US State Department spokesman Matt Miller, Blinken “emphasized the importance of diplomacy and maintaining open channels of communication on the full range of issues to reduce the risk of misconceptions and miscalculations.”

“Taiwan issue touches the core of China’s core interests”

Qin told Blinken, according to state broadcaster CCTV, that Beijing believes relations between the United States and China are “at their lowest point since diplomatic relations were established.” According to Qin CCTV, this does not match “the fundamental interests of the two peoples” or the “expectations of the international community” during the conversation with Blinken.

“The Taiwan issue goes to the heart of China’s core interests,” he said. The fate of Taiwan is currently one of the main points of contention between the West and China.

A senior US official, who wished to remain anonymous, said Sunday’s discussion went beyond normal, including about Taiwan. “This was a real conversation,” he said.

Bill Gates “the first American friend”

Since the split between China and Taiwan in 1949, Beijing has regarded the island as a separate area that it wants to reunite with the mainland – by military force if necessary. Recently, Beijing had massively stepped up its threats against Taipei.

President Xi struck a conciliatory tone towards the United States last week when he received Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates (67). Gates is “the first American friend I met in Beijing this year,” Xi said, according to the state-run People’s Daily. “We have always pinned our hopes on the American people and hope for lasting friendship between the peoples of the two countries,” Xi said. (AFP/jmh)

Source: Blick