US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives for a meeting with China’s top foreign policy leader, Wang Yi.
(Photo: dpa)
Beijing Despite the serious tensions between China and the United States, head of state and party leader Xi Jinping plans to receive US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing this Monday. The Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported shortly before the planned date. The unexpectedly announced meeting is unusual in terms of protocol. It can be understood as a special gesture towards the USA.
The first visit by a US Secretary of State to China since 2018 comes amid deep differences between the rival great powers. It is about trade issues between the world’s two largest economies, but also about politics towards Taiwan and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
China’s top foreign policy chief, Wang Yi, had previously accused the United States of having a “misperception” of his country, which in turn led to “wrong policies” towards the People’s Republic. In a meeting with the US Secretary of State on Monday, Wang Yi said his first visit to China comes at a critical time. “It is necessary to choose between dialogue or confrontation, cooperation or conflict.” The relationship between the two great powers is burdened by a whole range of contentious issues.
The US must stop promoting the “theory of a Chinese threat,” the former secretary of state said. They must also lift “illegal unilateral sanctions” and end his country’s “suppression of technological development.” In addition, the US should not continue to deliberately interfere in China’s internal affairs, Wang Yi said, according to state television.
Particularly on the question of Taiwan, there is “no room for compromises” for China, emphasized the top politician, who is still above today’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang in China’s power hierarchy. The US would have to remain faithful to the one China principle, honor its commitments to Beijing, respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly oppose Taiwan independence.
China wants to isolate Taiwan with One China principle
China regards the democratic island republic as part of the People’s Republic and threatens to conquer it. One China policy is commonly understood to mean that Beijing is recognized as the only legitimate government. Taiwan, on the other hand, has had an independent government for more than seven decades and has long since given up the claim of wanting to represent all of China. For its part, Beijing is trying to isolate Taiwan internationally with the one-China principle.
The first visit by a US Secretary of State to China since 2018 comes amid deep differences between the rival powers. While Blinken was holding talks in Beijing, Germany and China are again talking directly to each other: The new Chinese head of government, Li Qiang, began his visit to Germany in Berlin with a meeting with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. German-Chinese government consultations will follow on Tuesday.
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