Washington talks unlikely to change course of China-US rivalry
- Tensions between the world’s two biggest economies extend far beyond the trade war and could shape international politics for years to come, analysts say
- Top level dialogue set to get under way on Friday
The rivalry between China and the United States extends far beyond their ongoing trade war and top-level diplomatic and security talks between the two countries in Washington are unlikely to change that, analysts have said.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis will lead the US side in Friday’s talks with China’s top diplomat and Politburo member Yang Jiechi, and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe.
The agenda is expected to cover the gamut of sensitive issues, from territorial disputes in the South China Sea and Beijing’s militarisation of the contested waters, to its alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
US ambassador to China Terry Branstad was quoted by Reuters as saying on Thursday that the two sides were expected to have “frank” exchanges on key topics, with the aim being “to avoid mistakes or accidents that can happen in the military arena”.
The talks come at a time when the tension between Washington and Beijing has risen to a point that if nothing is done to ease it, “sooner or later it risks getting out of control”, former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger said in Singapore this week.