Blinken, "If China Wants to Halt Trade Disputes, It Must First Eliminate Unfair Practices"

"From Illegal Support, Subsidies, and Intellectual Property Theft to Abolition"
"America's Absolute Superiority Comes Through Alliances and Partnerships"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken emphasized that in order to resolve the trade dispute with China, China must first abolish unfair practices such as illegal subsidies to state-owned enterprises and intellectual property theft. This statement is interpreted as a more aggressive stance ahead of the high-level Alaska talks with China.

On the 17th, in a video interview with Japan's TV Asahi channel, when asked how the U.S. plans to resolve the future U.S.-China trade dispute, Secretary Blinken said, "There are two important issues in trade with China. First, tariffs and trade deficits are important, and we are reviewing everything. But much more important are the structural issues that China has yet to resolve," emphasizing, "Illegal support, subsidies, technology transfers, intellectual property theft related to state-owned enterprises?these unfair practices create unequal and unfair competition that harms our workers and businesses." This reaffirmed that negotiations to resolve the U.S.-China trade dispute will be difficult unless the unfair practices that the U.S. has persistently demanded since the Donald Trump administration are addressed first.

The main goal of this meeting was also outlined as the first contact with China and to listen to whether China understands the concerns of the U.S. and its allies. Secretary Blinken stated, "The priority of this meeting is to clearly and directly explain our concerns and to hear directly how the Chinese representatives think about them," adding, "It is especially important that the Chinese side understands the concerns that the U.S. and its allies have about China and why so many countries are increasingly worried about China's actions." This emphasized that there will be no negotiations or statements that would advance bilateral relations beyond the current situation.

Regarding whether new sanctions will be imposed on China, Secretary Blinken was reserved, saying that cooperation with allies is most important. He said, "We are reviewing everything regarding China and will work closely with our allies and partners," adding, "The strength with which the U.S. responds to China starts with alliances and partnerships. That is a unique asset we have and China does not, and it is the true source of our comparative advantage."

Meanwhile, Secretary Blinken, who arrived in South Korea after leaving Japan the previous day, is scheduled to hold a '2+2 meeting' involving the foreign and defense ministers of South Korea and the U.S. on the 18th with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and then depart for Alaska to hold high-level talks with Chinese representatives.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.