"China Likely to Demand Sanctions Lift at Alaska Talks... Difficult to Expect Improved Relations"

"China Expected to Demand Lifting of Sanctions on Huawei and SMIC"
US Anticipated to Launch Fierce Attacks on Hong Kong, South China Sea, and Unfair Trade Practices

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] China is expected to demand the lifting of a significant portion of U.S. sanctions against China, including those on Huawei, at the upcoming U.S.-China high-level talks scheduled to be held in Alaska. The U.S. government is anticipated to launch strong attacks on China over issues such as Hong Kong voting rights, South China Sea territorial claims, and intellectual property theft, significantly heightening tensions between the two sides even before the talks.

On the 17th (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources related to the Alaska high-level talks, reported, "The Chinese side plans to urge the withdrawal of sanctions and regulations imposed on individuals and institutions that began during the Donald Trump administration," adding, "They are expected to request the lifting of sanctions on telecommunications and semiconductor companies such as Huawei and SMIC, as well as the removal of visa restrictions on Chinese Communist Party members, international students, and state media journalists, and the reopening of the Chinese Consulate General in Houston." The WSJ, quoting sources, also stated that China would propose withdrawing retaliatory measures taken in response if the requested sanctions are lifted or eased.

However, given the expected strong pressure from the U.S. side, these demands are unlikely to be accepted. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, after holding high-level talks in Japan, pressured China in an interview with TV Asahi, saying, "China must first eliminate unfair practices that create uneven and unfair competition against our workers and companies, such as illegal support, subsidies, technology transfers, and intellectual property theft involving state-owned enterprises."

The WSJ analyzed that since the U.S. side is expected to raise comprehensive complaints against China during the talks, including issues related to Hong Kong voting rights, South China Sea territorial claims, intellectual property theft, and cyber security attacks, improving bilateral relations through this meeting will be very difficult.

However, the WSJ predicted that Chinese officials will also propose regularizing high-level talks between the two countries and scheduling a virtual summit between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the climate change summit in April, making discussions on these matters possible.

Meanwhile, the U.S.-China high-level talks scheduled for the 18th in Alaska will be the first face-to-face meeting since President Biden’s inauguration in January. From the U.S. side, Secretary of State Tony Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will attend, while from the Chinese side, Yang Jiechi, a member of the Communist Party’s Political Bureau responsible for foreign affairs, and Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister, will participate.

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