With the prospect of a new US-Philippines agreement to give the United States greater access to military bases and a visit to Taiwan by new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, analysts see Blinken’s main task during the February 5-6 meetings as seen as ensuring that both countries could survive the crisis.
Jude Blanchett, a China expert at the Washington Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said, “I think the goal is basically to quickly move this Cold War into its detente phase, leaving the Cuban Missile Crisis Could.”
“It’s really about re-establishing the foundation of the relationship and putting in place some processes and mechanisms to be able to manage through some of the tensions in the relationship,” he told the CSIS briefing on the tour.
looking for stability
China is also eager for a stable US relationship so it can focus on its economy, now battered by the abandoned zero-Covid policy and neglected by foreign investors, which they see as a return to state intervention in the market. Let’s see in
Xi has met with world leaders in recent months, seeking to reset ties and settle disagreements, including Australia, which will resume coal exports to China after a three-year hiatus. He has also sidelined some of his “wolf warrior” diplomats, whose tough rhetoric alienated many of China’s trading partners.
Chinese state media struck a conciliatory tone ahead of Blinken’s visit, with a comment in The People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, arguing that it is impossible for the two economies to separate and urging the countries to “promote development”. should deepen cooperation to give” of bilateral relations. ,
Analysts said that despite such pragmatic rhetoric, China’s actions – particularly its military activity around Taiwan and in the South China Sea – have not improved.
“China watchers have seen this diplomatic song and dance before,” said Craig Singleton, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington.
“Xi understands that he can offer peace to pave a much easier way out of China’s current COVID crisis, which is a huge priority for him.”
This will be Blinken’s first visit to China since October 2018, when Mike Pompeo in Donald Trump’s administration met then-foreign minister Wang Yi in Beijing, with the two dignitaries exchanging pointed remarks amid a worsening trade war. did.
He will be accompanied by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.