US-China relations on right track after Blinken visit to China: Biden

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Jun 2023 10:23

The purpose of this visit was to improve relations which had fallen to all-time lows amid US provocations with regards to Taiwan.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken holds a news conference in the Beijing American Center at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, Monday, June 19, 2023 (AP)

US President Joe Biden on Monday said that the relationship between the US and China is on the "right trail" following Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Beijing during which he met and spoke with Chinese leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"He did a hell of a job," Biden said. "We're on the right trail here."

Biden added that throughout Blinken's visit, he was receiving updates from the meetings with Chinese leaders via White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Blinken's trip comes in light of heightened tensions between the two global powers. The purpose of this visit was to improve relations which had fallen to all-time lows amid US provocations with regard to Taiwan.

Despite that the Secretary of State said the talks were constructive, he said that China refused to restore military-to-military channels for managing crisis communications.

During his meeting with China's top diplomat Wang Yi, Blinken was told that it is out of the question for China to compromise on the Taiwan issue and that the US must respect the one-China principle as per the three joint US-China communiques, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose Taiwan separatism.

Blinken reiterated several times throughout his official visit that the US does not support Taiwan's independence, but China's proactive actions were cause for concern in the region.