"Let's Prevent Only Clashes" US and China Agree to Maintain Communication... Was Blinken's Visit to China Successful? (Summary)

The United States and China have restored high-level talks following U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken's visit to China, agreeing on the necessity of stabilizing bilateral relations. They reached a consensus that the deteriorating U.S.-China relationship since the reconnaissance balloon incident earlier this year cannot be left unattended.However, there are repeated criticisms that no significant 'breakthrough' was found on key issues including the Taiwan matter, with fundamental differences reaffirmed. This situation means that the U.S.-China hegemonic competition could escalate to extremes at any time.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Blinken Meets Xi Jinping

According to the U.S. State Department on the 19th (local time), Secretary Blinken visited China for the first time in five years as U.S. Secretary of State, meeting consecutively with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the 18th, Wang Yi, member of the Communist Party Central Political Bureau, on the 19th, and President Xi Jinping.

Immediately after, at a press conference held at the U.S. Embassy in China, Secretary Blinken stated, "In every meeting, I emphasized that direct and sustained engagement (dialogue) at the high level is the best way to responsibly manage differences and ensure competition does not escalate into conflict," adding, "I heard the same from the Chinese counterparts." Both sides clearly recognize fundamental differences while also strongly feeling the need to stabilize relations. Secretary Blinken also introduced that as part of efforts to maintain communication, State Councilor Qin Gang will visit the United States.

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, confirmed in a statement, "Both sides had frank, substantive, and constructive discussions on major priorities in bilateral relations and various global and regional issues," and "Both sides agreed to continue discussions on developing principles to guide bilateral relations as discussed by the two leaders in Bali."

U.S. media, including The New York Times (NYT), particularly noted Secretary Blinken's meeting with President Xi during this visit. The NYT evaluated, "At least for now, the United States and China sent a signal that they do not want their relationship to be defined by open hostility." Politico also analyzed, "Secretary Blinken's meeting with President Xi is considered an important signal during this visit."

Jacob Stokes, senior fellow for Indo-Pacific affairs at the Center for a New American Security, emphasized, "If President Xi had refused to meet Secretary Blinken, it would have signaled the end of the diplomatic process agreed upon by the U.S. and Chinese leaders last fall," adding, "The significance is greater than the fact that the meeting took place." Some foreign media also pointed out that despite the worsening relations, so-called private diplomacy continued with visits by Apple CEO Tim Cook and Microsoft founder Bill Gates to China, which helped lead to Secretary Blinken's meeting with President Xi.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On that day, President Xi met with Secretary Blinken for about 35 minutes at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, affirming his willingness to improve relations by stating, "The success of China and the United States is an opportunity, not a threat to each other." He said, "China always hopes that Sino-U.S. relations will be healthy and stable, and believes that the two great powers can overcome all difficulties, respect each other, coexist peacefully, cooperate, and find the right way to win-win," adding, "China respects the interests of the United States and will neither challenge nor replace the United States."

He also expressed hope that Secretary Blinken's visit would positively contribute to bilateral relations and stressed the need to implement the 'common consensus' mentioned during his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Bali last November. In response, Secretary Blinken conveyed President Biden's words that "the U.S. and China have a responsibility to manage their bilateral relationship responsibly," emphasizing that the U.S. does not seek a new Cold War, institutional change in China, or conflict with China.

President Xi's remarks that day were evaluated as considerably softer than the tone of Wang Yi, whom Secretary Blinken met earlier during the visit. Bloomberg News described it as "a rare positive tone during Secretary Blinken's visit to Beijing," analyzing that it "raises expectations that bilateral relations could reach a more stable foundation." The Washington Post (WP) highlighted the significance of China's emphasis on dialogue, noting it marks a considerable departure from the previous stance that placed full responsibility for the deterioration of relations on the United States.

There is also widespread analysis that this meeting will lay the groundwork for a face-to-face summit between President Xi and President Biden later this year. Prior to that, visits by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to China are also likely.

Wang Huiyao, chairman of the Center for China and Globalization, told the press, "Secretary Blinken's visit will act as a catalyst for more bilateral interactions between the two countries," diagnosing that "at least it has brought a period of stabilization that eases tensions in the second half of this year." Zhu Feng, director of the Institute of International Studies at Nanjing University, told WP, "Both sides know that Sino-U.S. relations must return to normal," adding, "Relations between major countries require competition, cooperation, and dialogue, and they must interact."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Differences on Key Issues Including Taiwan

However, both the United States and China have clearly stated that while seeking ways to improve relations, they will not compromise on core issues. This confirms that the meeting was not a substantive achievement in improving bilateral relations but merely a temporary measure.

At the press conference, Secretary Blinken said, "We want to see growth and success everywhere in the world, including major economic powers like China," but also mentioned, "At the same time, providing China with technology that could be used against us is not in our interest," referring to China's nuclear force enhancement and hypersonic missile development. He also emphasized, "The United States will always stand up for our values."

This clearly indicates that even as the U.S. shifts from 'decoupling' to 'derisking' in excluding China from critical industrial supply chains, it will never overlook China's 'technological rise' related to military modernization. Chinese local media also focused on these remarks, analyzing that "the U.S. will not change its path in its policy of suppressing China."

Additionally, Secretary Blinken pressured China to take a role on the North Korea issue during his visit. Human rights, the Ukraine war, and the issue of U.S. citizens detained in China were also major concerns Secretary Blinken expressed to the Chinese side.

On the other hand, China delivered a strong warning message to the U.S. regarding the Taiwan issue. State Councilor Qin Gang said during the talks, "The Taiwan issue is the core of China's core interests and the most significant and prominent risk in Sino-U.S. relations," urging the U.S. to fulfill its promise not to support 'Taiwan independence.' The next day, Wang Yi, who met Secretary Blinken on the 19th, stated regarding Taiwan and reunification, "There is no room for compromise or concession," demanding that the U.S. genuinely adhere to the 'One China' principle.

The NYT analyzed that even President Xi's remark to Secretary Blinken, hoping that "this visit will positively contribute to stabilizing Sino-U.S. relations," implied China's dissatisfaction. The outlet noted that while this visit will prevent further deterioration of U.S.-China relations for the time being, overcoming the distrust weighing down the relationship will take much more time. Skeptical views also abound, pointing out that the meeting had no substance beyond 'resuming dialogue,' and that emphasizing only the resumption of dialogue itself shows how severely relations between the two countries have deteriorated.

In an interview with U.S. CBS News that day, Secretary Blinken confirmed that despite the promise of high-level U.S.-China talks, China did not agree to reopen military communication channels. He said, "There is no agreement yet," and "We will continue to push." The Washington Post reported, "Differences on key issues remain," acknowledging "failure to achieve the main goal of reopening military channels during this visit."

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