U.S Diplomats Hold Talks With China, But Washington Continues Stays Hawkish

In the span of June – July, two American diplomats have tried to make breakthroughs in China with talks of commitment and progress, but Washington remains steadfast with its hawkish policy stance towards Beijing. 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken tried to steer relations with China back on track in June with both countries agreeing to stabilize the bilateral relationship. “I came to Beijing to strengthen high-level channels of communication, to make clear our positions and intentions in areas of disagreement, and to explore areas where we might work together on our interests, align on shared transnational challenges, and we did all of that.” 

Then in early-July Janet Yellen, the U.S Treasury Secretary, made a four-day trip to Beijing to foot ties with China on a “surer footing”. She said it would help to build a resilient and productive channel of communication with China’s new economic team. Yellen also tried to persuade her Chinese counterparts that the United States is not fundamentally hostile to China. “We do not see our relationship in terms of great power conflict and we do not seek to decouple our economies from each other.” 

The current Biden administration has adopted a harsh, hawkish policy on China – describing it as the world’s second-largest economy and the most serious competitor to the United States. Last month, the U.S. president likened the Chinese President Xi Jinping to a dictator. He said Xi Jinping was not aware about the Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by the U.S. “That’s a great embarrassment for dictators. When they didn’t know what happened. That wasn’t supposed to be going down where it was. It was blown off course.” 

Beijing lashed out at Washington saying the remarks go totally against facts and seriously violate diplomatic protocol, and severely infringe on China’s political dignity. Earlier this year, Xi Jinping accused the U.S. of trying to suppress, contain and encircle China. But President Biden highlighted his aim is to cooperate with Beijing where possible, compete where necessary, and confront if left with no other choice.