Blinken Goes to Beijing: US Secretary of State Visits China for First Time in Five Years
Blinken Goes to Beijing: US Secretary of State Visits China for First Time in Five Years
Sputnik International
This weekend, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing to meet with the Chinese leadership as Sino-American relations have been steadily... 19.06.2023, Sputnik International
Since the de-facto tariff war unleashed against China by then-US President Donald Trump in 2018, the White House has appeared to be bent on antagonizing Beijing, repeatedly insisting that the products of Chinese tech firms are allegedly used by China's Communist Party for espionage and stoking tensions around the island of Taiwan.Commenting on this situation, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said that the relations between China and the United States are "at their lowest point" since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
This weekend, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing to meet with the Chinese leadership as Sino-American relations have been steadily deteriorating over the course of the last few years.
Since the de-facto tariff war unleashed against China by then-US President Donald Trump in 2018, the White House has appeared to be bent on antagonizing Beijing, repeatedly insisting that the products of Chinese tech firms are allegedly used by China's Communist Party for espionage and stoking tensions around the island of Taiwan.
Commenting on this situation, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said that the relations between China and the United States are "at their lowest point" since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, center right, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.
Originally expected to take place earlier this year, Blinken's visit to Beijing got postponed after a wayward Chinese weather balloon accidentally strayed into US airspace, which prompted the US government to accuse China of trying to spy on American military installations.
Above: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, left, walks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, center right, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
A US embassy vehicle which is believed to be carrying Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, is escorted by motorcades as they heads to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse for a meeting in Beijing, Monday, June 19, 2023. Blinken has opened a second and final day of critical meetings with senior Chinese officials as the two sides expressed a willingness to talk but showed little inclination to bend on hardened positions that have sent tensions soaring.
During his visit, Blinken met with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang and even with Chinese President Xi Jinping himself.
Above: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang greet each other ahead of a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023.
Doormen await the arrival of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ahead of his meeting with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China.
Even though the United States repeatedly escalated tensions around Taiwan, Blinken claimed that the US does not seek to engage in a conflict with China.
Above: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, walks as he arrives to meet with China's top diplomat Wang Yi, not in photo, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) shakes hands with China's Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second left, meets with China's top diplomat Wang Yi, second right, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.
President Xi Jinping hosted Antony Blinken for talks in Beijing on June 19, capping two days of high-level talks by the US Secretary of State with Chinese officials.
Beijing insists that Washington must adhere to the One China principle, and that the Chinese government will not compromise on the Taiwan issue.
Above: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Monday, June 19, 2023.
Chinese President Xi Jinping also said that the future of mankind depends on whether China and the United States find a way to coexist.
Above: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 19, 2023. President Xi Jinping hosted Antony Blinken for talks in Beijing on June 19, capping two days of high-level talks by the US Secretary of State with Chinese officials.
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