The objective of the US secretary of state’s visit is to address existing tensions, while challenges concerning Taiwan, Ukraine, and human rights diminish the potential for finding common ground.
Table of Contents
At present, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Beijing, engaged in an important visit aimed at reevaluating and adjusting the relationship between the United States and China. This visit comes after a period of heightened tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
He will be the first secretary of state to visit China in the past five years, and he is also the highest-ranking US official to embark on such a diplomatic mission since President Joe Biden assumed office in early 2021.
Both the US and Chinese governments have expressed limited expectations for the visit, as indicated by officials from both sides. A senior State Department official stated earlier this week that there are no high hopes for a significant number of concrete outcomes.
Aim to open lines of communication
Rather than aiming for specific deliverables, US officials are framing the visit as an attempt to restore regular and open lines of communication with China, with the ultimate goal of preventing conflicts between these two influential global powers.
The objective is to establish consistent and frequent communication channels at senior levels within both governments to enhance clarity, minimize misunderstandings, and avoid miscommunications as much as possible.
Hope for a positive rekindling of ties
US President Joe Biden downplayed the significance of the balloon incident as Secretary Blinken prepared to travel to China, suggesting that the Chinese leadership was unaware of its location, contents, and purpose. Biden characterized the incident as more embarrassing than intentional during a press briefing on Saturday.
Biden expressed his hope for another meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, building on their extensive discussion in November during the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Bali. It was during this meeting that the two leaders agreed on Blinken’s upcoming visit to China.
“I hope that in the coming months, I will have the opportunity to meet with Xi again and discuss both the legitimate differences we have and areas where we can find common ground,” stated President Biden.
It is likely that both leaders will attend the upcoming G20 summit in September, scheduled to take place in New Delhi. Additionally, President Xi has received an invitation to visit San Francisco in November, coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering hosted by the United States.
During his visit, Secretary Blinken is expected to engage with high-ranking Chinese officials and participate in a banquet held at the state guesthouse within the Diaoyutai gardens.
Blinken’s primary objectives
During a press conference on Friday prior to his departure for Beijing, Secretary Blinken outlined three primary objectives for his trip. Firstly, he aimed to establish mechanisms for crisis management, focusing on enhancing communication channels to effectively address potential crises.
Secondly, he sought to advance the interests of the United States and its allies, while also directly addressing concerns related to the bilateral relationship. Lastly, Blinken aimed to explore areas of potential cooperation between the two countries.
Blinken emphasized the importance of communication as the starting point to ensure that the competition between the US and China remains peaceful and does not escalate into conflict.
Meeting with top diplomatic officials
Upon their arrival in Beijing on Sunday morning, Secretary Blinken and his delegation had a busy schedule planned for the first day of the visit. It included an afternoon meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, followed by a working dinner.
On Monday, Blinken is set to have a meeting with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi. Additionally, he is scheduled to participate in roundtable discussions with American exchange students and business leaders.
Observers and analysts will be closely monitoring the possibility of a meeting between Blinken and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Previous visits by high-ranking US diplomats often involved face-to-face meetings with China’s top leader. However, it should be noted that current US-China relations are at their lowest point in decades, adding uncertainty to the likelihood of such a meeting.
Blinken expressed his intention to address “very real concerns” on a variety of issues during his meetings with senior Chinese officials. These concerns encompass several areas, such as the fentanyl crisis, matters related to Taiwan and cross-Strait affairs, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and China’s detention of American citizens, including individuals like Kai Li, Mark Swidan, and David Lin.
