China – United States: Beijing warns of the risk of a “deterioration” of bilateral relations

As of Wednesday, April 24, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making his second visit to China in less than a year to try to ease tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Although these have eased since his previous visit last June, disputes remain, particularly US restrictions on the export of advanced technologies to China, including semiconductors. Social network TikTokwhich is threatened with a ban in the United States, is also among the obstacles

Before the trip, Antony Blinken hinted that he would raise delicate issues with his Chinese interlocutors, such as China’s commercial practices, Beijing’s support for Moscow and the Taiwan issue.

Relations between the two forcesis starting to stabilize“, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday, warning, however, of persistence “negative elements “.

“Relationships face all kinds of difficulties. China’s legitimate development rights have been unjustifiably oppressed, and our core interests have been called into question“, he emphasized, alluding to American restrictions in the technology sector. “Should China and the United States continue to move in the right direction, that of stability, or return to the direction of deterioration?», Wang Yi pretended to be surprised.

“Unreasonable” pressure

Ahead of the conversation with his colleague, Antony Blinken confirmed that he will be “very clear, very direct» with him, while he said he hopedprogress on issues on which our presidents agreed“. The two countries must also be “as clear as possible in the areas where we have differences, at least to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations” said Mr. Blinken.

The US foreign minister’s trip, which ends this Friday, is a sign of waning friction between China and the United States, exacerbated under former President Donald Trump, who is once again pledging to take a hard line on Beijing if he wins the November election.

President Joe Biden, while seeking greater stability between the world’s two largest economies, is keeping the pressure on. Mr. Blinken is expected to advocate restraint as the new president is inaugurated on May 20 in Taiwan.

The archipelago is increasingly likely to feature among the delicate issues likely to be raised as the US Congress on Tuesday gave the green light to a $95 billion military aid package aimed at Washington’s allies such as Taipei.

He is also expected to voice American concerns about China’s trade practices, which Washington sees as anti-competitive, a key issue for President Joe Biden in this election year.

The desire of Joe Biden’s administration to cooperate with China is in stark contrast to efforts made to isolate Russia from the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022. Unless the Chinese directly deliver arms to Russia, Washington has accused the arms supply in recent weeks. dual-use equipment and technologies to this country which facilitates rearmament efforts.