Editorial | Mutual need should stop deterioration in US-China ties for now
- Beijing visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken keeps talks open between the two superpowers with the Ukraine war, Russian relations and Mideast conflict looming large
The visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China, including a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, continues high-level Beijing and Washington contacts restored after last November’s summit between Xi and US President Joe Biden.
Xi noted some progress in bilateral relations in his talks with Blinken, according to the Chinese side, but called on the United States not to say one thing and do another, and to keep its promises.
Blinken voiced concerns about China supplying goods to Russia that could have military uses and alleged manufacturing overcapacity, which is blamed for disrupting foreign markets.
Yet again, in the absence of progress on the most challenging issues, one of the most important results was agreement to continue high-level dialogue, including talks in the next few weeks on artificial intelligence (AI).
That said, the main focus of Blinken’s trip was not economic but geopolitical – to press China over the Russian issue.
Washington accuses Beijing of supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex and helping enable its war against Ukraine. The US and its allies want to avoid further deterioration of Ukraine’s military position before more US military aid makes a difference.