Fierce Verbal Battle from the Start of US-China Talks... Widening Gap in Relationship Recovery

First High-Level Talks Since Biden Administration Inauguration
US Expresses Deep Concern Mentioning Hong Kong and Taiwan
China: "US Uses Military Power to Pressure Other Countries"

U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken (second from right) and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (far right), along with China's Politburo member in charge of foreign affairs Yang Jiechi (second from left) and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (far left), are all speaking at the U.S.-China high-level talks held on the afternoon of the 18th (local time) at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. In the first high-level face-to-face meeting between the two countries since the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration, the two nations clashed fiercely. Secretary Blinken accused China of threatening the world order, while Politburo member Yang Jiechi countered by firmly opposing U.S. interference in internal affairs. [Image source= Reuters]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The first high-level US-China meeting since the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration began with a direct clash. Concerns that US-China relations will not recover quickly are solidifying into certainty.

On the 18th (local time), US Secretary of State Tony Blinken and White House National Security Council (NSC) Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Chinese Communist Party Politburo member responsible for foreign affairs Yang Jiechi and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Anchorage, Alaska, in the afternoon.

Despite being the first high-level contact between the two countries under the new US administration, both sides launched offensives with blunt language without any pleasantries. Only opening remarks were made public, but the sharp exchanges were intense enough to be described as a meeting between hostile nations.

Secretary Blinken, who spoke first, relentlessly criticized China on human rights, Hong Kong and Taiwan issues, and hacking. He launched a preemptive attack by stating, "The United States will discuss deep concerns about China's actions, including in the Xinjiang region." He also proposed discussions on Hong Kong, Taiwan, cyberattacks against the US, and economic coercion towards allies.

Politburo member Yang Jiechi did not back down. Contrary to his usual reputation for politeness, Yang wore a stern expression and criticized, "The United States uses its military and financial superiority to pressure other countries," accusing it of abusing the concept of national security to threaten the future of international trade. He also pointed out that the US incites other countries to attack China. He emphasized that Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are all inseparable parts of China's territory and firmly opposed US interference in China's internal affairs.

Yang expressed discomfort, saying that the Chinese delegation came to the US at the invitation of the US, and announcing new sanctions is not a way to welcome guests.

Yang even used harsh language, stating, "Black people are being massacred in the United States," which provoked dissatisfaction from the US side. The talks are scheduled to continue for two days until the next day. The US side has indicated that all agenda items will be presented during the talks but predicted that a joint declaration would be difficult to produce. The Chinese side is also known to demand that the US undo the sanctions imposed on China by the previous Donald Trump administration, which the US is unlikely to accept. The expectation that this meeting will only confirm each side's positions is becoming a reality.

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