Improved relationship with the USA
Xi announces ‘progress’ after Blinken visit
06/19/2023, 1:49 p.m
For the first time, the US and China are talking directly to each other again. Foreign Minister Blinken has to listen to a lot of criticism in Beijing. But he also gets a meeting with head of state Xi Jinping – a sign of goodwill.
According to Chinese President Xi Jinping, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China has brought “progress” in relations between the two countries. Both sides had “made progress in the talks and reached agreements on certain issues,” Xi said after a half-hour meeting with Blinken in Beijing.
The Chinese side has “made its position clear,” Xi said. Both sides agree to “continue the agreements” he made with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali in November, the Chinese leader said. At that time, Xi and Biden had declared that they wanted to reduce tensions between the USA and China.
Blinken is the highest-ranking US official to visit China in five years. Relations between the two countries had deteriorated significantly in recent years. The main issues are trade and human rights issues and how to deal with self-governing and democratic Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a breakaway territory.
No compromise on Taiwan
Blinken had previously held extensive talks with China’s top foreign policy leader, Wang Yi. He accused the US of having a “misperception” of his country, which in turn led to “wrong policies” towards the People’s Republic. Blinken’s visit to China comes at a critical time. “It is necessary to choose between dialogue or confrontation, cooperation or conflict.”
The US must stop promoting the “theory of a threat from China,” 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.
The top politician emphasized that there was “no room for compromises” for China, particularly on the Taiwan question. 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 regards the democratic island republic as part of the People’s Republic and threatens to conquer it.