Xi-Blinken Meeting Sparks Hope for Improved US-China Relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s meeting with U.S. Foreign Minister Antony Blinken, which was uncertain until Monday, signals a potential shift towards improved dialogue between the two nations. While Blinken’s discussion with Xi lasted only half an hour, it carries significant weight as he was granted an audience with the Chinese president, an honor typically reserved for meetings with heads of state. During the meeting, President Xi emphasized the importance of mutual respect and fairness in state-level engagements, urging Blinken to contribute positively to fostering stable U.S.-China relations. Xi also called for a rational and pragmatic approach from the United States, citing the global need for such cooperation.

In response, Blinken acknowledged the necessity of a stable relationship between the two countries. He refuted Beijing’s claim that the United States seeks to contain China and instead advocated for collaboration on various fronts, including addressing the situation in Ukraine, combating drug trafficking, and expanding direct flights between the nations. Blinken also expressed concerns about China’s actions in the Taiwan Strait and the country’s business environment.

The United States had managed expectations before the meeting, with Blinken stating that the primary goal was to reestablish communication channels. This emphasis on creating “guardrails” to prevent misunderstandings, particularly in the South China Sea, meant that concrete progress on specific issues was not the immediate focus. However, the visit likely paved the way for future engagements, including a potential meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as the forthcoming visits of climate envoy John Kerry and ministers Janet Yellen (finance) and Gina Raimondo (trade) later this year.

This meeting marked the first direct interaction between Xi and Blinken in over seven months, following their previous conversation at the G20 summit in Bali last November. Originally scheduled to travel to Beijing in February, Blinken’s plans were disrupted by a spy balloon incident that the United States attributed to China. This recent meeting adds pressure to the already turbulent U.S.-China relations, which had shown signs of slight improvement.

Last week, another spying issue emerged, threatening to derail Blinken’s visit again. The Wall Street Journal revealed China’s alleged plans for a spy base in Cuba in exchange for billions of dollars in aid to the financially troubled nation. The White House confirmed monitoring of such facilities for years and claimed that a listening post had been established in Cuba since 2019.

These circumstances suggest that the United States approached this matter with caution. Before the trip, Minister Qin warned Blinken that if the U.S. genuinely sought to improve relations, it must refrain from interfering in Chinese affairs — an assertion Beijing consistently reiterates. One of the main sticking points in the U.S.-China relationship is the status of Taiwan, with China viewing it as an integral part of its territory. On Monday, Foreign Minister Wang emphasized that there is no room for compromise on this issue.

China has long accused the United States of harboring a “cold war mentality” and attempting to divide the world into power blocs. Wang stated that the relationship between the two nations is currently at a low point, urging the United States to act responsibly on the global stage and break the current downward spiral.

Chinese state media interpreted Xi’s willingness to meet with Blinken as a demonstration of Beijing’s commitment to taking responsibility. Hu Xijin, an opinion writer and former editor of the party newspaper Global Times, wrote that the future trajectory of U.S.-China relations will depend largely on whether America fulfills its promises or engages in contradictory actions.

Undoubtedly, both countries stand to benefit from reestablishing a constructive dialogue. The ongoing trade war with the United States has had a detrimental impact on the Chinese economy, while the United States relies on China’s cooperation to exert pressure on Russia. Furthermore, as the world’s two largest emitters of CO₂, collaboration between the U.S. and China is crucial for addressing global warming.