US-China talks start with warnings about misunderstandings and miscalculations

BEIJING (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials on Friday, emphasizing the importance of “responsibly managing” disputes between the United States and China as the two sides clash over a number of issues. controversial bilateral, regional and global issues.

Talks between the two sides have intensified in recent months, although differences have widened. Blinken said he raised concerns with Xi about China’s support for Russia And his invasion of Ukraineas well as other issues, including Taiwan and the South China Sea, human rights and production and export of synthetic opioid precursors.

Blinken sounded a positive note on recent progress in bilateral cooperation, including in the areas of military communications, counter-narcotics and artificial intelligence, on which both sides agreed to begin a dialogue on how to reduce the risks associated with this rapidly emerging technology.

“We are committed to maintaining and strengthening the lines of communication to advance this agenda, and again to managing our differences responsibly to avoid any misunderstanding, any misperception, any miscalculation,” he said. -he declares.

But he stressed that “even as we seek to deepen cooperation, where our interests align, the United States remains very clear-eyed about the challenges posed by (China) and our competing visions for the future.” America will always defend our fundamental interests and values.

In particular, he said he had expressed ongoing concerns about Beijing’s supply to Moscow of materials, including machine tools and microelectronics, that President Vladimir Putin is using to bolster Russia’s defenses and his war against Ukraine.

“Russia would find it difficult to continue its assault on Ukraine without support from China,” Blinken told reporters after his meeting with Xi.

“Fueling Russia’s defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, but also European security,” he added. “As we have been telling China for some time, ensuring transatlantic security is a core U.S. interest. In our discussions today. I made it clear that if China didn’t solve this problem, we would. »

Blinken did not specify how the United States would handle the issue if China did not, but Washington has imposed a slew of sanctions on Chinese companies that do business with countries including Russia, Iran and North Korea.

He said he had urged China to use its influence “to discourage Iran and its proxies from expanding their territory.” conflict in the Middle East » and convince North Korea “to stop its dangerous behavior and engage in dialogue”.

Blinken also discussed with Xi China’s maritime maneuvers in the disputed South China Sea and reiterated “ironclad” US support for The Philippinesits oldest ally in Asia.

Xi stressed that China and the United States should seek common ground “rather than engaging in vicious competition.”

“China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous and prosperous United States,” the Chinese leader said. “We hope that the United States can also view China’s development in a positive light.” This is a fundamental question that must be resolved.

Earlier, Blinken held lengthy talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong.

He and Wang stressed the importance of keeping open lines of communication as they lamented the persistent and growing divisions that threaten global security. Those divisions were highlighted earlier this week when U.S. President Joe Biden signed a massive foreign aid bill that contains several elements the Chinese view as problematic.

“Overall, China-US relations are beginning to stabilize,” Wang told Blinken at the start of about five and a half hours of talks. “But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship continue to grow and develop and the relationship faces all sorts of disruptions.”

Wang also pointed out, without being specific, the well-known Chinese complaints regarding US policies and positions on the South China SeaTaiwan, human rights and China’s right to maintain relations with countries it deems appropriate, asserting that “China’s legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed.”

“China’s concerns are consistent,” he said. “We have always called for respecting each other’s core interests and urge the United States not to interfere in China’s internal affairs, not to hinder China’s development, and not to cross the red lines of China regarding China’s sovereignty, security and development interests. »

Blinken responded by saying the Biden administration places great importance on dialogue between the United States and China, even on controversial issues. He stressed that some progress had been made over the past year, but suggested that negotiations would remain difficult.

Flashes arrived in China on Wednesday, visiting Shanghai shortly before Biden signed the $95 billion foreign aid package that includes several elements likely to anger Beijing, including $8 billion to counter China’s growing aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea. It also seeks to force TikTok’s parent company, based in China, to sell the social media platform.

China and the United States are the main players in the Indo-Pacific region. Washington is increasingly alarmed by Beijing’s growing aggressiveness in recent years toward Taiwan and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbors with whom it has significant territorial and maritime disputes in the country. South China Sea.

China denounced US aid to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. He also strongly opposes efforts to force the sale of TikTokalthough Blinken said that issue was not raised during his talks on Friday.

The bill also provides $61 billion for Ukraine to defend against Russian invasion. China’s Foreign Ministry said the US stance on Chinese defense trade with Russia was hypocritical when compared to the amount of military assistance Washington provides to kyiv.

“It is extremely hypocritical and irresponsible for the United States to introduce a bill for large-scale aid to Ukraine while making baseless accusations against normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Russia ” said ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

“Blaming China will not solve the problem, nor will it alleviate the passive situation of the parties involved in the Ukrainian crisis,” he said.