U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday for a rare trip, with hopes low for any major breakthrough but eager to lay the groundwork for more stable and predictable relations.
Blinken is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. The two countries have been locked in a bitter dispute over a range of issues, including trade, human rights, and Taiwan.
Blinken is expected to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other top officials during his two-day visit. He is likely to press China to ease tensions and cooperate on issues of mutual interest, such as climate change and nuclear nonproliferation.
However, expectations for any major breakthroughs are low. China has shown little willingness to make concessions on the issues that the United States is most concerned about.
Still, Blinken’s visit is seen as an important step in trying to manage the U.S.-China relationship. The two countries are the world’s two largest economies and they have a deep interdependence. It is in the interests of both countries to find ways to cooperate and avoid conflict.
Blinken’s visit comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and China. The two countries have been engaged in a trade war for over two years, and they have also clashed over issues such as human rights and Taiwan.
The Biden administration has said that it wants to compete with China, not contain it. However, it has also said that it will stand up to China when it violates international rules or norms.
Blinken’s visit is an opportunity for the two countries to test whether they can find common ground on some issues. However, it is also a reminder of the deep divisions that exist between them.
