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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Taiwan and other thorny issues with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing on the final day of a rare visit aimed at preventing friction between the rival powers from spiraling into conflict.
Making the first visit to China by a U.S. secretary of state in five years, Blinken talked with Wang for around three hours at Monday’s meeting at Diaoyutai state guest house in Beijing, according to State Department officials.
Describing the U.S.-China relationship as being at a low point, Wang said the root cause was the United States’ wrong perception of China.
“We must take a responsible attitude toward the people, history and the world, and reverse the downward spiral of U.S.-China relations,” Wang said during the meeting with Blinken, according to a statement released by China’s foreign ministry.
A day earlier, Blinken had met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang for more than 7-1/2 hours. Washington described both sets of talks as “candid” and “constructive”.
All eyes will be on whether Blinken will also meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the day, an engagement sources familiar with the matter said was expected but was yet to be confirmed by the State Department or Chinese officials.
Wang urged the United States to stop speculating on threats from China, abandon its “suppression” of China’s scientific and technological development, and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs, according to Chinese state media.
On the issue of Taiwan, the democratic island Beijing claims as it own, Wang said “China has no room for compromise or concessions”, according to the Chinese readout.
