I already had my suitcases packed and the documents studied when Antony Blinken, head of US diplomacy, canceled his trip in February.
Beijing had to wait. A crisis had opened, one more, when a suspicious Chinese spy balloon was detected flying over US territory. In the midst of a fever for balloons (some fake, as a joke) the escalation of tension increased because the Pentagon’s demolition of that contraption (a meteorological observatory, according to its owners), was described as an “exaggerated reaction” by the Asian giant authorities .
Blinken’s trip, his first to China as Secretary of State, has been rescheduled and he will fly out this Friday for two days of meetings (Sunday and Monday). He will then leave for London where a meeting focused on Ukraine is held. Precisely, the war in Europe due to the Russian invasion is one of the issues that increases tensions between the two superpowers.
The visit comes at another time of friction, after confirming that, at least since 2019, China has electronic espionage facilities at a base in Cuba and the recent siege by US planes and warships in the Sea of South China and the Taiwan Strait, the hottest point.
It has not yet been specified whether there will be a face-to-face meeting with President Xi Jinping, and beyond the meetings, which is not a small thing in the current situation with airs of a cold war, US advisers have low expectations for results.
They summarized the objective as getting Washington to call Beijing and get them to pick up the phone. For analysts it is very relevant that they continue to talk to each other despite conflicts.
Blinken will try to pressure Beijing on the importance of contact between the two nations to improve relations.
As Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, stressed at a remote press conference, Blinken wants to establish a direct communication channel that facilitates and allows discussing important challenges, addressing misperceptions, and preventing miscalculations. not lead to conflict.
But Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang put the onus on Washington to improve ties between the two governments. “The relationship between the United States has encountered new difficulties and rivalries since the beginning of the year,” he said. “It is clear where the responsibility lies,” he added.
Qin appealed to the White House to stop using competition to harm China’s sovereignty and security. The US rapprochement stance was branded false for continued violations of Chinese core interests.
Blinken has several meetings scheduled with Chinese executive officials and both governments are hopeful that this occasion will be the start of a series of trips by other federal officials throughout the summer. On the list of potential visitors are Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury, Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce or John Kerry, special advisor on climate.
The secretary of state’s tour should also pave the way for Xi to go to San Francisco in November for the Asia-Pacific leaders’ meeting. “This is the time for intense diplomacy,” the White House said.
