15-6-2023 (WASHINGTON) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to embark on a significant diplomatic trip, visiting both Beijing and London from June 16th to June 21st. His visit to London will focus on discussions regarding international support for Ukraine, where he will meet officials from the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and other partner countries. In a parallel development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin confirmed that Secretary Blinken will also visit China from June 18th to June 19th.
This visit marks a significant milestone as Secretary Blinken will be the first US Secretary of State to visit China in five years and the first Cabinet-level official to do so in four years. The visit comes at a time when tensions between the US and China have been escalating. Secretary Blinken has emphasized the US’s commitment to managing competition with China in a responsible manner. Experts believe that this visit, which facilitates high-level exchanges and face-to-face communication, will help manage disagreements and prevent misjudgments.
During a recent press briefing, Daniel Kritenbrink, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, expressed the US’s realistic and confident approach to the visit. He stated that while progress on various issues is hoped for, expectations of an extensive list of deliverables should be tempered.
Diplomatic relations between the US and China have been strained in recent years. The postponement of Secretary Blinken’s planned trip to Beijing in February, following the sighting of a Chinese spy balloon over the continental US, further intensified tensions. Subsequently, the Chinese defense minister refused to engage in talks with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Despite these challenges, the US has made efforts to establish communication channels with China. In a notable breakthrough earlier this month, Secretary Austin had a brief encounter with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu at a dinner in Singapore, where they exchanged greetings.
Secretary Blinken’s upcoming visit is expected to cover a wide range of issues, including trade, human rights, and cybersecurity. It is hoped that the visit will help ease tensions and pave the way for future engagement between the two nations. However, the visit takes place against the backdrop of an ongoing trade war and heightened concerns regarding China’s actions in Hong Kong and Taiwan, treatment of Uyghur Muslims, and cybersecurity threats.
