US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing in the early hours of Sunday on a diplomatic visit to China. His visit is considered very important in the efforts to reduce the growing tension between the two global powers. Blinken is the first high-level US official to visit China since US President Joe Biden took office. He is the first US Secretary of State to visit Beijing in five years.
In February, Blinken canceled a trip to China after an alleged Chinese spy balloon was spotted in US airspace.
According to the State Department, while in Beijing, Secretary Blinken will meet with senior PRC officials where he will discuss the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage the U.S.-PRC relationship. He will also raise bilateral issues of concern, global and regional matters, and potential cooperation on shared transnational challenges.
Blinken will officially begin his two-day visit on Sunday afternoon with talks with senior Chinese officials. Despite this high-level visit, there is little hope of any significant breakthrough on the complex issues between the two largest economies, as relations between the US and China have turned sour in recent years.
Blinken can also meet President Xi Jinping
Hostilities and recriminations have escalated sharply between the two countries over disagreements on a number of issues that have implications for global security and stability. Blinken met Chinese Foreign Minister Qing Gong on Sunday. According to US officials, he is likely to meet China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and President Xi Jinping on Monday. The biggest reason for the recent tension between China and America is Taiwan, which China considers as its part and America strongly opposed it.
China and America face to face on Taiwan
Last year, China was incensed by the visit of the then-speaker of the US Parliament, Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan. China had not only strongly opposed it but also threatened America. Later, while registering its protest, China also did a big maneuver by encircling Taiwan. A few months ago, when Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen visited America, China also strongly opposed it. In recent months, war-like situations have also arisen between China and Taiwan several times.
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