Why Tianjin? And what’s in store in China for US envoy Wendy Sherman?

Beijing might be repaying a favour to Washington by hosting the meeting outside the Chinese capital, an observer says

The talks come after lengthy protocol jostling but that they are happening at all is positive, analysts say

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The meeting will be held at the Tianjin Binhai One Hotel. Photo: Weibo

Published: 10:30pm, 24 Jul 2021Updated: 10:30pm, 24 Jul 2021

A lot remains uncertain as to what US No 2 top diplomat Wendy Sherman can achieve in her visit to China, but she can at least expect a nice dinner.

Not that Beijing has high hopes for her trip to reverse a free-falling relationship – there is no sign that China will roll out the red carpet for the US deputy secretary of state and Chinese media reports are succinct and straightforward, suggesting that the whole affair would be conducted in a low-profile manner. Even modest hopes for progress were undercut after Beijing levelled sanctions on seven individuals and organisations late on Friday just before the meeting.

But observers say Sherman will at least be in for a nice dinner. Still annoyed by the fiery meeting between two sides in Alaska in March, Beijing will be making a subtle dig at Washington, signalling that China knows how to treat a guest.

Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat, famously said after the Alaska meeting that he could only have instant noodles for dinner.

“Chinese are always making jokes that when Yang wasn’t even hosted for dinner, he had to bring his own instant noodles,” said Zhiqun Zhu, chairman of the international relations department at Bucknell University.

“The Chinese side will be a more respectable host and show off Tianjin’s hospitality.”