27-10-2023 (WASHINGTON) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed hope on Thursday (Oct 26) for more stable relations with the United States, marking a rare visit to Washington as part of preparations for a potential visit by President Xi Jinping.
President Joe Biden extended an invitation to President Xi to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. However, the lead-up to the summit has seen the United States maintain a firm stance on China, implementing targeted sanctions and firmly supporting U.S. allies in disputes involving Beijing.
The visit commenced with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meeting Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who conveyed his anticipation of “constructive conversations,” which included a dinner and more formal talks.
During the meeting, Wang Yi expressed China’s desire to reduce misunderstandings and expand cooperation for mutual benefit. He stressed the importance of stabilizing U.S.-China relations and returning them to a path of healthy, stable, and sustainable development. He acknowledged that differences would persist but emphasized the importance of responding calmly, noting that the right and wrong should not be determined solely by the might of one’s arm or the volume of one’s voice.
On the following day, Wang Yi is scheduled to speak at the White House with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Although no meeting with President Biden has been officially announced, it is widely expected after President Xi hosted Secretary Blinken in Beijing.
U.S. officials have consistently spoken of establishing “guardrails” with China to prevent worst-case scenarios and have attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to reestablish contact between the two nations’ militaries.
President Biden recently stated, “We’re going to compete with China in every way according to international rules – economically, politically, in other ways. But I’m not looking for conflict.” He also reminded China of U.S. treaty obligations to the Philippines, which claimed that Chinese vessels intentionally collided with Manila’s boats in disputed waters—a claim disputed by Beijing.
Tensions between the two nations have been particularly high over Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy claimed by Beijing. In response to actions by U.S. lawmakers, Taiwan has conducted significant military exercises over the past year. China’s defense ministry accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of pushing the island towards a “dangerous situation of war.”
Robert Daly, director of the Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, believes that Wang Yi will likely seek assurances that the Biden administration will not “embarrass” President Xi if he visits San Francisco, either through harsh new policies or public comments. The Chinese government hopes for a smooth transition into and out of the meeting with minimal disruption.
Daly also highlighted the differing perspectives of both nations on what constitutes “stable” ties. While the United States sees stability as not altering its view of China as a threat and maintaining pressure, China interprets it as the U.S. ceasing what it perceives as a relentless stream of provocations and insults.
In recent months, the Biden administration has implemented stricter export restrictions on semiconductor chips to China, increased military support for Taiwan, and imposed sanctions on individual Chinese entities related to Iran’s drone program and the production of chemicals used in fentanyl, a potent painkiller linked to addiction issues in the United States.
Furthermore, President Biden has fostered alliances in response to China’s ascendance. He formed a new three-way military alliance with Australia and Britain and promoted the “Quad” with Australia, India, and Japan.
U.S.-China relations have also been marred by exchanges of criticism over the Middle East conflict, where the United States has remained a staunch ally of Israel. This diplomatic dialogue occurs as the United States enters an election season in which former President Donald Trump, who seeks to return to the White House, has made hawkish criticism of Beijing a central policy point.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is on a visit to Washington. pic.twitter.com/gbjyo56Ml4
— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) October 26, 2023
