Only US deliverance of pledges in deeds can brighten Blinken’s Beijing visit
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken managed to have detailed meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, top diplomat Wang Yi, and Foreign Minister Qin Gang to complete his long-expected maiden visit to China. The meetings have been termed candid, constructive and productive. However, the success of these meetings will largely depend on upcoming behavior of the Joe Biden’s administration toward China.
The Chinese leadership shared a holistic and comprehensive road map for further strengthening bilateral relationships between two countries. China urges the United States not to interfere in domestic affairs of China and respect its core interests and principles, which would be instrumental for mutual cooperation, coordination and collaboration in diverse sectors of economy, investments, people-to-people contact, multiculturalism and last but not least, health and education.
As President Xi frankly told Blinken, the way forward is for the US side to adopt a rational and pragmatic attitude to avoid major-country competition and to respect China’s legitimate rights and interests in peaceful coexistence. Indeed, the whole world looks forward to stable development of relationship of the two largest economies.
It was observed that the China-US relationship experienced the lowest ebbs since its beginning decades ago, which was hurting the core interests of two peoples and failing the shared expectations of the international community and which should be rectified as soon as possible. It is time for Washington to realize their respective success is an opportunity and not a threat to each other.
Just as was showcased by Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee in meeting with Blinken, the wrongdoings of the US causing spirits of distrust, disrespect, and disorientation should be corrected, sooner the better. It was convincingly conveyed that the US should stop hyping the “China threat” narrative, respect China’s sovereignty over Taiwan Island with deeds matching words, lift unilateral sanctions on China, stop decoupling moves with China’s technology and development, and stop willfully interfering in China’s internal affairs.
The Chinese messages are loud and clear that further strengthening of bilateral relationships belongs to cooperation not competition, coordination not contradiction, collaboration not conflict between two countries. They reflect Chinese peaceful persuasions to resolve conflicts, promote sustainable ties and foster spirits of openness, transparency and connectivity for achieving a just world order.
They also exhibit Chinese determination to protect core interests and principles towards national sovereignty, national dignity, territorial integrity, and right to socio-economic prosperity. Therefore it was duly conveyed that Taiwan questions, Honk Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet among others belong to Chinese sensitive list which should not be eroded through false, fake and fictional dissemination of China as “threat” in the world.
Reassurance of the two sides following presidential consensus on the Taiwan question is soothing for other countries of the world. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang once again highlighted the one-China policy and the Chinese government’s principled stance pertaining to its national pride, dignity and demands. The US should put their promises in three China-US joint communiqués into action and truly deliver on its commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence”.
It was a diplomatic good will that Qin shared the road map of the China-US future relationships mainly based on China’s strong commitment to building a stable, sustainable and constructive relationship with the US on reciprocal basis. Qin’s open and elaborative remarks assure China’s positive, productive and participatory approach towards the US, and carry on Chinese principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.
The Chinese moves to jointly work for stabilization and steering the relations back to the right track are commendable and can de-escalate tension. Political positivity, professional diplomacy and state’s ability of conflict resolution through peaceful mechanism is need of the hour amid varied challenges. That both sides agree to have constant and continued high level contacts and interactions spreads hopes of stability and sustainability.
Moreover, the meetings highlight Chinese wisdom of major-country diplomacy, political commitment and visionary leadership’s strong resolve to jointly work for a better and secure world free from bloc mentality, Cold War psychology, economic exploitation and social coercion. It was simply the victory of diplomacy, dialogue, decency, determination, and development.
It is good omen that President Biden viewed visit results positively and the US State Department spokesperson in a statement dubbed this visit as candid, substantive, and constructive talks which brightened the scope of mutual cooperation, maintaining open communication.
In this regard, the delayed visit of Blinken showed Washington’s willingness to relaunch candid relationship between two powers. Putting the derailed bilateral relations back in the right direction of cooperation not competition is auspicious for both peoples and rest of the world.
The Blinken visit to Beijing should be the first major step of the US toward diplomatic easiness, political calmness and economic restoration, but it needs further streamlining, systematizing and sensing the importance of joint work for regional and global peace and stability.
Next, US easing its war machine to and around Taiwan Strait, lifting unilateral socio-economic sanctions against Chinese companies, lessening trade war and discarding false and fake propaganda on “China threat” would be welcoming gestures to move forward.
The author is Executive Director of the Center for South & International Studies (CSAIS) Islamabad.
The views don’t necessarily reflect those of China Daily.