Blinken Urges Clear Communication, Avoidance of Misunderstandings in US-China Relationship during Beijing Visit

Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the significance of avoiding misunderstandings and miscalculations in relations between the US and China during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday. The two countries are working to stabilize their tense relationship as they compete for technological, economic, and political dominance. Both sides must make sure that differences are clearly communicated to prevent misunderstandings or miscalculations, Blinken stated before his closed-door meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister in Beijing. President Joe Biden’s earlier call with China’s leader Xi Jinping addressed a number of US concerns about their relationship, according to White House records from early April. Tensions between Washington and Beijing have been brewing for years, ranging from trade disputes to allegations that China supported Russia’s military activities in Ukraine. On Thursday before meeting Wang Yi, Blinken urged Chinese officials against supporting Russian efforts to reconstruct its defense infrastructure which poses a threat to European security. The US diplomat also expressed concerns about Beijing’s trading policies and non-market economic practices during his talks with Shanghai’s Communist Party Secretary Chen Jining on Thursday. According to the State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, Blinken emphasized that “the United States seeks healthy competition” in its relationship with China while demanding a level playing field for American workers and enterprises operating within the country. This was Blinken’s second trip to Beijing following an intense diplomatic mission last year aimed at calming US-China tensions, but it is still uncertain whether he will meet Xi Jinping during this visit. The top U.S. Diplomat expressed a need to “manage responsibly the most important relationship” while anticipating making progress on issues agreed upon by their presidents and clarifying differences in order to avoid misunderstandings or miscalculations as his recent Asia-Pacific voyage reaches an end today before continuing toward Indonesia tomorrow for regional security cooperation with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.