TeaThe US seeks to stabilize relations with China as Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Beijing on June 18. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates. Beijing reminds its people of the young soldiers who were martyred in the Galvan conflict. The Enforcement Directorate has issued a show cause notice to Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi. Chinascope examines Blinken’s conversations prior to his trip to China.
China in a week
After landing at Beijing Capital International Airport, Blinken was greeted by Yang Tao, a low-level official at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, with no red carpet to welcome him. The US is delaying the search for its planned actions against Beijing conversation And put up railings. But will it be successful?
The US is sending all signals to stabilize ties with China but Beijing appears to be agreeing to talks instead of reducing diplomatic tensions.
Both sides were not expecting any breakthrough during the two-day visit to Blinken, which took place after a delay. The trip was earlier marred by the spy balloon incident, which led to its cancellation.
Blinken will try to set guardrails for bilateral relations and ensure the international security environment – already teetering on the precipice – does not sink into a freefall.
On June 18th, Blinken First met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. It was unclear whether or not he would meet Xi the next day as the kind of reception Blinken would receive had some suspense. On Friday, Xi made an appointment with Gates and told him he was the first American friend he had met this year.
“The foundation of China-US relations lies in the people. We have always placed our hopes on the American people and wish for friendship between the two peoples.” Said She to Gates.
Gates’ visit to Beijing may have been planned to ease tensions and signal a resumption of US-China talks. In the past, the US has used negotiators such as Gates, who has goodwill in Beijing, to signal changes in ties.
Blinken’s first visit to China is also the first by a US secretary of state since 2018 and by a cabinet-level official after US President Joe Biden takes office in 2021.
Despite the intensifying confrontation in the Pacific, the US and China have had some very important talks in the past month. Bill Burns, director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) secret trip In May went to China, where he met his Chinese counterparts. US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan met Wang Yi, member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, in Vienna from May 10-11.
Blinken’s visit is being called an attempt by the US to ‘re-engage’ with China instead of reducing tensions. The latter is highly unlikely now.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s comment gives you an insight into the context of Blinken’s visit. America should not harbor illusions of dealing with China from a position of strength. Said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
The US believes it has the upper hand in negotiations with China, exemplified by exposing the Chinese spy balloons incident, as it seeks stability in relations. And Blinken now wants to use that leverage. But Beijing has limited leverage as China’s economy is in recession, and predictions about a US decline are not materializing. America’s impending social and political collapse is a theory Proposed by some Chinese political theorists, including Wang Huning, Xi’s second-in-command. The prediction has not come in vain as the US economy has managed to bounce back after Covid-19 and other complications of domestic political turmoil – at least so far.
Blinken will likely try to restart military and diplomatic communication channels, which were closed after former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. Visited Taipei in Taiwan. Just as Blinken was about to visit Beijing, Biden were told He would like to meet Xi in the next few months.
to come g20 summit may provide an opportunity for their face-to-face meeting later this year in New Delhi. But the prospects of Xi’s visit to New Delhi remain unclear.
Despite strong initiatives by Washington DC, Beijing will not take Blinken’s visits seriously. The Chinese can seriously return to negotiations when they have an advantage over the US and feel they can reach a face-saving deal – this has not happened yet. Beijing will look to Washington’s actions regarding Taiwan to return to the negotiating table.
Chinese state media reminded the Chinese public about the ‘Galwan Heroes’ on the third anniversary of the clash with Indian soldiers in Ladakh in June. An op-ed published by China Youth Network Titled “Take up the guns of the heroes who defend the nation and guard the borders”, the youth were encouraged to join the army and follow the path of the soldiers who died in Galwan.
“We have come here after listening to the stories of the heroes who protected the country and guarded the border. I am sure we will not let our predecessors down. Said Liu Ning, a soldier of the Border Defense Regiment, deployed in front of eastern Ladakh.
A senior Chinese military official quoted Xi on ‘promoting heroes’.
“Chairman Xi emphasized that only by advocating for heroes can heroes be produced, and only by striving to be heroes can a large number of heroes be produced,” wrote Zhang Guowen, deputy director of the Political Affairs Department of the Xinjiang Military Region.
Beijing may think that its propaganda can inspire youth to join the army by reminding them of the relatively young age of the Galwan soldiers. But often, such propaganda can have the opposite effect, discouraging youth from venturing into the harsh terrain of China’s Himalayan range.
Read also: India-US partnership’s path unmistakable, full of promise: Antony Blinken
China in world news
China has accused India is using strong tactics against its mobile phone makers like Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo and Realme.
Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of India released Show cause notice Xiaomi CFO Sameer Rao, former MD Manu Jain and three foreign banks (CITI, HSBC and Deutsche Bank AG) for allegedly violating forex rules by laundering 5,551.27 crores. Directorate had Earlier seized Xiaomi’s funds in April and accused the company of sending them on behalf of its parent company in China.
Now, the government has asked Chinese mobile phone makers to appoint Indian nationals as equity partners and officers, among several other measures to tie the companies to India.
Beijing has a history of appointing Chinese nationals as heads of foreign companies operating in the mainland. India is only catching up to what China has been practicing within its territory for many years.
must read this week
5 plight of self-identity in China’s international communication – pekingology
What does the West really know about Xi’s China? , weird arne wested
What was the first museum in China? , woo hyun
The writer is a columnist and freelance journalist. He was previously China media correspondent with the BBC World Service. He is currently a MOFA Taiwan Fellow based in Taipei and tweets @aadilbrar. Thoughts are personal.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)