BEIJING: China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang emphasized the imperative to stabilize China-US relations after a series of “erroneous words and deeds” have strained the ties between the two countries.
In a meeting with the United States Ambassador Nicholas Burns in Beijing, Qin highlighted the need for the US to rectify its handling of the Taiwan issue and respect the “one China” principle.
The relationship between the world’s two largest economies reached a low point last year when the then-Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, visited Taiwan, a democratically governed island that China claims as its territory. This move angered China and led to the severing of formal communication channels between the two countries, including military contacts.
“The top priority is to stabilize China-US ties, avoid a downward spiral, and prevent any untoward accident between the United States and China,” stated Qin during the meeting, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. Qin expressed concern about the negative impact of recent US actions and rhetoric on the hard-won positive momentum in Sino-US relations.
Although tensions had eased following a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden at a G20 summit in November, they flared up again in February when a Chinese high-altitude balloon entered US airspace. The cancellation of US Secretary of State Blinken’s visit to Beijing further strained the relationship.
Qin highlighted the disruption caused by the United States to the agreed agenda of dialogue and cooperation, leading to a renewed coldness in the relationship between the two countries. Burns also acknowledged the importance of stabilizing ties and expanding high-level communication in a Twitter post about the meeting.
US-China relations and challenges
Last week, Blinken expressed the importance of re-establishing regular lines of communication at all levels, offering hope for a visit. Additionally, US climate envoy John Kerry stated that China had invited him for talks on the global climate crisis, raising expectations of resetting one of the most significant state-to-state relationships.
The Taiwan issue remains a major challenge in Sino-US relations. Last month, China conducted war games near Taiwan after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles. The United States, governed by the Taiwan Relations Act since 1979, is authorized to provide Taiwan with defensive means, but it is not obligated to intervene if Taiwan is attacked.
As part of the 2023 budget, the US Congress has authorized up to $1 billion worth of weapons aid for Taiwan using an expedited security assistance authority, similar to the mechanism used to provide arms to Ukraine.
Efforts to stabilize Sino-US relations continue amidst the complexities of the Taiwan issue and other challenges. Both countries recognize the importance of constructive dialogue and cooperation in order to prevent further deterioration of the relationship and promote stability in the region.
