Blinken arrives in Beijing amid high diplomatic tensions with China

Secretary of State Anthony Brinken arrived in Beijing early Sunday morning. High-stakes diplomatic mission try to calm down the exploding US-China relations tension It worries many people around the world.

Brinken had planned to start two days of talks with Chinese officials in the afternoon. He is the highest-level U.S. official to visit China since President Biden took office, and the first visit by a secretary of state in five years.

The trip comes after a planned visit in February was postponed following a shootout. Chinese surveillance balloon in the skies of america

But the prospect of a major breakthrough in one of the most vexing problems facing the planet’s two largest economies is slim. The relationship has already deteriorated in recent years. Hostility and accusations are steadily escalating over a range of disagreements that affect global security and stability.

Blinken is scheduled to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi on Sunday and possibly with President Xi Jinping on Monday, U.S. officials said.

Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi agreed to Mr. Blinken’s visit early in their meeting in Bali last year. Announced less than a day after the events of February, the diplomatic and political turmoil caused by the discovery of a shot down of a Chinese reconnaissance balloon flying over what the United States claimed was Late.

The list of disagreements and potential points of dispute is long, ranging from trade with Taiwan, China to Hong Kong’s human rights situation, and even China’s military claims in the South China Sea to Russia’s war with Ukraine.

U.S. officials said Mr. Blinken planned to put forward his own views before he left Washington on Friday, but neither side indicated any intention to back off.

Shortly before leaving office, Blinken stressed the importance of establishing and maintaining better lines of communication between the United States and China. He told reporters that the U.S. wants to prevent “competition with China from turning into a conflict” due to avoidable misunderstandings.

Mr. Blinken said on Friday that Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi had promised to improve communication “to ensure that communication is as clear as possible to avoid misunderstandings and possible misunderstandings.”

In a meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Friday, Mr. Xi said the United States and China could work together “to the benefit of both sides,” suggesting he may be willing to de-escalate tensions.

“I believe that the foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people,” Xi told Gates. “The current world situation allows us to undertake a variety of activities that benefit our two countries, our peoples, and humanity as a whole.”

Biden told reporters at the White House on Saturday, “I hope to meet with President Xi again in the coming months to discuss not only the legitimate differences between our two countries, but also how we can get along.” Stated.

Opportunities could arise at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September and at the US-hosted Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference in San Francisco in November.

Several high-level talks have taken place since Mr Blinken’s visit was canceled in February. CIA Director William Burns I traveled to China in May.Meanwhile, China’s Commerce Minister visited the United States, and Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Yi in Vienna in May.

But those are the two countries’ fierce rhetoric over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, China’s refusal to blame Russia for its war against Ukraine, and Washington’s claims that China is seeking to build up its military power. has been interrupted by global surveillance capabilities, including Cuba.

And earlier this month, China’s defense minister rejected US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s request to meet alongside a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continued dissatisfaction.

Mr Austin said on Friday he was confident there would be “someday talks” with the Chinese side, but we’re not there yet.

Underscoring the situation, China has called the US security firm’s report, which accused China-related hackers of attacks on hundreds of public institutions, schools and other targets around the world, “far-fetched and professional.” I refused as no.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has repeatedly accused the US government of conducting hacking attacks, complaining that the cybersecurity industry rarely reports hacking attacks.

Earlier this week, Qin called on Blinken to ask the United States to respect “China’s core concerns,” including the issue of Taiwan’s autonomy, and “stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.” It followed a similar counterargument. And stop undermining China’s sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition. ”

Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint meeting on Friday and agreed to strengthen defense cooperation as part of countering China’s growing influence and ambitions.

This comes at the same time that the Biden administration signed agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom to provide its first nuclear submarines, prompting China to expand its diplomatic presence, particularly in the Indian and Pacific island nations. and is moving rapidly, and China is opening or opening. It plans to open at least five new embassies in the next year.

The agreement is part of an 18-month nuclear partnership called ‘AUKUS’, which stands for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Before Mr. Blinken’s departure, two US officials downplayed hopes of major progress, stressing that the visit was intended to restore a sense of calm and normality to senior contacts.

“We are taking a pragmatic and confident approach and a sincere desire to manage competition in the most responsible way possible,” said Daniel Krittenbrink, the United States’ top diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific. I am in Beijing,” he said.

Kurt Campbell, the National Security Council’s top expert on Asia, said, “If tensions are to be managed, intense competition requires intense diplomacy, which can clear misunderstandings, signal, communicate and It’s the only way to work together anywhere.” And when our interests align. ”

Ahead of Friday’s departure, Mr. Blinken also said he intends to personally file the case of the American. unjustly detained person in China.

Among the three Americans the State Department believes are being wrongfully detained in the country is Texas businessman Mark Swidan, 48, on death row. He has been in prison since 2012 on drug trafficking charges, which he denies.

The other two are pastor David Lin, 67, who has been imprisoned in China since 2006, and Kai Li, 60, who has been imprisoned since 2016.

Summarize this content to 100 words

Secretary of State Anthony Brinken arrived in Beijing early Sunday morning. High-stakes diplomatic mission try to calm down the exploding US-China relations tension It worries many people around the world.Brinken had planned to start two days of talks with Chinese officials in the afternoon. He is the highest-level U.S. official to visit China since President Biden took office, and the first visit by a secretary of state in five years.The trip comes after a planned visit in February was postponed following a shootout. Chinese surveillance balloon in the skies of america

But the prospect of a major breakthrough in one of the most vexing problems facing the planet’s two largest economies is slim. The relationship has already deteriorated in recent years. Hostility and accusations are steadily escalating over a range of disagreements that affect global security and stability.

Secretary of State Anthony Brinken arrives in Beijing, China on June 18, 2023.

Leah Millis/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Blinken is scheduled to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi on Sunday and possibly with President Xi Jinping on Monday, U.S. officials said.

Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi agreed to Mr. Blinken’s visit early in their meeting in Bali last year. Announced less than a day after the events of February, the diplomatic and political turmoil caused by the discovery of a shot down of a Chinese reconnaissance balloon flying over what the United States claimed was Late.The list of disagreements and potential points of dispute is long, ranging from trade with Taiwan, China to Hong Kong’s human rights situation, and even China’s military claims in the South China Sea to Russia’s war with Ukraine.U.S. officials said Mr. Blinken planned to put forward his own views before he left Washington on Friday, but neither side indicated any intention to back off.Shortly before leaving office, Blinken stressed the importance of establishing and maintaining better lines of communication between the United States and China. He told reporters that the U.S. wants to prevent “competition with China from turning into a conflict” due to avoidable misunderstandings.

Mr. Blinken said on Friday that Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi had promised to improve communication “to ensure that communication is as clear as possible to avoid misunderstandings and possible misunderstandings.”In a meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Friday, Mr. Xi said the United States and China could work together “to the benefit of both sides,” suggesting he may be willing to de-escalate tensions.”I believe that the foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people,” Xi told Gates. “The current world situation allows us to undertake a variety of activities that benefit our two countries, our peoples, and humanity as a whole.”Biden told reporters at the White House on Saturday, “I hope to meet with President Xi again in the coming months to discuss not only the legitimate differences between our two countries, but also how we can get along.” Stated.Opportunities could arise at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September and at the US-hosted Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference in San Francisco in November.Several high-level talks have taken place since Mr Blinken’s visit was canceled in February. CIA Director William Burns I traveled to China in May.Meanwhile, China’s Commerce Minister visited the United States, and Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Yi in Vienna in May.But those are the two countries’ fierce rhetoric over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, China’s refusal to blame Russia for its war against Ukraine, and Washington’s claims that China is seeking to build up its military power. has been interrupted by global surveillance capabilities, including Cuba.

And earlier this month, China’s defense minister rejected US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s request to meet alongside a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continued dissatisfaction.Mr Austin said on Friday he was confident there would be “someday talks” with the Chinese side, but we’re not there yet.Underscoring the situation, China has called the US security firm’s report, which accused China-related hackers of attacks on hundreds of public institutions, schools and other targets around the world, “far-fetched and professional.” I refused as no.A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has repeatedly accused the US government of conducting hacking attacks, complaining that the cybersecurity industry rarely reports hacking attacks.Earlier this week, Qin called on Blinken to ask the United States to respect “China’s core concerns,” including the issue of Taiwan’s autonomy, and “stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.” It followed a similar counterargument. And stop undermining China’s sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition. ”Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint meeting on Friday and agreed to strengthen defense cooperation as part of countering China’s growing influence and ambitions.This comes at the same time that the Biden administration signed agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom to provide its first nuclear submarines, prompting China to expand its diplomatic presence, particularly in the Indian and Pacific island nations. and is moving rapidly, and China is opening or opening. It plans to open at least five new embassies in the next year.

The agreement is part of an 18-month nuclear partnership called ‘AUKUS’, which stands for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.Before Mr. Blinken’s departure, two US officials downplayed hopes of major progress, stressing that the visit was intended to restore a sense of calm and normality to senior contacts.”We are taking a pragmatic and confident approach and a sincere desire to manage competition in the most responsible way possible,” said Daniel Krittenbrink, the United States’ top diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific. I am in Beijing,” he said.Kurt Campbell, the National Security Council’s top expert on Asia, said, “If tensions are to be managed, intense competition requires intense diplomacy, which can clear misunderstandings, signal, communicate and It’s the only way to work together anywhere.” And when our interests align. ”Ahead of Friday’s departure, Mr. Blinken also said he intends to personally file the case of the American. unjustly detained person in China. Among the three Americans the State Department believes are being wrongfully detained in the country is Texas businessman Mark Swidan, 48, on death row. He has been in prison since 2012 on drug trafficking charges, which he denies. The other two are pastor David Lin, 67, who has been imprisoned in China since 2006, and Kai Li, 60, who has been imprisoned since 2016.

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