Blinken meets with XI Jingping as Chinese officials warn of a ‘downward spiral’ in relations between the two superpowers

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday as part of a visit in which a prominent communist state official spoke of a “downward spiral” in the relationship between the superpowers.

Blinken met with the dictator after holding talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong.

Talks between the two sides have increased in recent months, even as differences have widened.

Blinken and Wang underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open, but also lamented that divisions were becoming increasingly serious.

They all underlined the importance of keeping the lines of communication open, but also lamented the persistent and deepening divisions that threaten global security.

These divisions were highlighted earlier this week when US President Joe Biden signed a massive foreign aid bill that includes several elements the Chinese see as problematic.

During his trip to China, Blinken raised the issue of the communist country’s consistent support for the Russian military

Their comments highlighted a long list of disagreements that needed to be discussed, including Taiwan and the South China Sea, as well as trade and human rights, China’s support for Russia and the production and export of synthetic opioid precursors.

“Overall, the China-US relationship is starting to stabilize,” Wang told Blinken at the start of about 5.5 hours of talks.

‘But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and the relationship is confronted with all kinds of disruptions.’

“Should China and the United States continue to move in the right direction and move forward with stability, or return to a downward spiral?” he asked. “This is an important question for our two countries and tests our sincerity and competence.”

Wang also outlined, without being specific, known Chinese complaints about U.S. policies and positions on the South China Sea, Taiwan, human rights and China’s right to have relations with countries it deems appropriate.

“China’s legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges,” he said.

“China’s concerns are consistent. We have always called for respect for each other’s core interests and urge the United States not to interfere in China’s internal affairs, not to obstruct China’s development, and not to cross China’s red lines on sovereignty , security and development interests of China.’

Blinken responded by saying the Biden administration places a premium on U.S.-China dialogue, even when it comes to points of contention. He noted that some progress had been made over the past year, but suggested that talks would remain difficult.

Despite its “unrestricted” partnership with Moscow, China has refrained from supplying weapons for Russia’s war in Ukraine

U.S. officials warn such aid could damage the broader bilateral relationship, even as ties stabilize after being hit by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022 and the U.S. crackdown on a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon in February 2023.

Blinken meets with Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse

“I look forward to these discussions being very clear and very direct about where we have differences and where the United States stands, and I have no doubt that you will do the same on behalf of China,” Blinken told Wang.

‘There is no substitute in our judgment for personal diplomacy to try to make progress, but also to ensure that we are as clear as possible about the areas where we have disagreements to avoid misunderstandings. to avoid miscalculations,” he said.

The State Department later said Blinken and Wang had “in-depth, substantive and constructive discussions on areas of disagreement and areas of cooperation” and made clear that Blinken had stood his ground on US concerns.

Blinken “stressed that the United States will continue to stand up for our interests and values ​​and those of our allies and partners, including on human rights and economic issues,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday and visited Shanghai shortly before Biden signed the $95 billion foreign aid package, which contains several elements likely to anger Beijing, including $8 billion to address China’s growing aggression toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea to counteract.

It is also trying to force TikTok’s Chinese parent company to sell the social media platform.

China and the United States are the major players in the Indo-Pacific. Washington has become increasingly alarmed by Beijing’s increasing aggressiveness in recent years toward Taiwan and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbors, with which it has significant territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

China has spoken out against US aid to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes attempts to force the sale of TikTok.

Other issues on the table include US complaints about China’s excessive industrial capacity, military-to-military communications, artificial intelligence and people-to-people exchanges.

The US is also pushing for progress in curbing China’s supply of chemicals used to make fentanyl

The bill also provides $61 billion for Ukraine to defend itself against the Russian invasion. The Biden administration has loudly complained that Chinese support for Russia’s military-industrial sector has allowed Moscow to undermine Western sanctions and step up attacks on Ukraine.

U.S. officials have said China’s ties with Russia would be a key topic of discussion during Blinken’s visit, and just before Friday’s meetings began, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would visit China in May.