Talk in the midst of conflict: on US and China relations

Relations between the world’s two biggest powers, the US and China, have thawed in the past five years amid a trade war launched by the Trump administration. Relations remain strained, despite a change in administration in Washington, marked by their rancor, with meetings between top officials in Alaska and then in Tianjin. It is the alarming state of relations that prompted US President Joe Biden to call on his counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday, the first time he has spoken since Mr Biden’s inauguration in February. While Mr Biden wanted “conflict not to ensure competition”, Mr Xi agreed on the need for both sides to “correct the relationship”, but repeatedly underlined the Chinese view that the trouble was “on China”. Because of US policy”. . Part of the Biden administration’s broader approach to compete with China where necessary, but cooperating where possible, the US has sought Chinese cooperation after its disastrous exit in Afghanistan, celebrated by state media in China. and on climate change, which is a priority for this administration. At the same time, the two sides have clashed over issues including human rights in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South China Sea works and the controversial investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

The Chinese side, on its part, has made it clear that it wants concessions on some thorny issues before agreeing to discuss working together on others. In July talks in Tianjin, Chinese officials presented the US two “lists” of demands, including the cancellation of an unconditional visa ban on Communist Party members and the withdrawal of the extradition request of Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of tech firm Huawei. which is on test. in Canada. The Chinese side has also called on the US to change its stance on the COVID-19 investigation, where Washington has led the call for a more transparent investigation. The Chinese foreign minister likened the US call for cooperation on climate change to calling for “an oasis” surrounded by desert. The “oasis”, he argued, “will be deserted sooner or later”. With the US likely to agree to China’s pre-conditions, the ties are likely to remain in place. If China argues that it is unrealistic to separate points of discord from wider ties, it is noteworthy that Beijing officials have rejected that exact argument regarding strained relations with India, saying that trade And cooperation on other fronts cannot continue as long as the LAC is in crisis. In contrast, Beijing hit out at New Delhi for “waggling and retreating” in its China policy, and demanded that it keep the border “in proper condition”. If cooperating in the conflict appears to be an unfair proposition for China when it comes to relations with the US, it is unfathomable how it expects India to take a very different stance on bilateral relations.