During China Visit, Blinken US Secretary of State: "US and China Must Handle Differences Responsibly"

U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken met with Chen Jining, Party Secretary of Shanghai, China, on the 25th and said, "The United States and China must responsibly manage their differences."

According to AFP and other sources on the 25th, Secretary Blinken stated in Chen's reception room, "President Joe Biden has been committed to direct and sustained dialogue between the world's two largest economies after years of escalating tensions."

Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State
Photo by AP Yonhap News

He also said, "We have a responsibility to the world to manage the bilateral relationship responsibly."

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, conveyed that Secretary Blinken raised concerns about "non-market economic practices," emphasizing that American companies should be able to compete fairly in China.

Secretary Chen responded, "Whether we choose cooperation or confrontation affects the people of both countries, the two nations, and the future well-being of humanity."

Secretary Blinken's visit to China is the most recent high-level contact since early last year when U.S.-China tensions peaked. However, on the other hand, tensions remain as the U.S. recently approved a bill mandating the forced sale of TikTok and is considering strengthening advanced semiconductor sanctions against China. Foreign media such as The New York Times (NYT) analyzed that this visit is taking place in a much friendlier atmosphere than before.

On the same day, Secretary Blinken also met with students at New York University's Shanghai campus.

The day before, he arrived in Shanghai late in the afternoon, dined at a local restaurant, and watched a basketball game. Through a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) that day, he expressed expectations for productive talks with Chinese officials during his visit. He also stated, "I have arrived in Shanghai to address issues important to Americans," adding, "One of these is the fentanyl problem, a leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 49."

AFP reported that Secretary Blinken is expected to travel to Beijing to meet with senior Chinese government officials and raise concerns about the relationship between China and Russia.

During this visit, Secretary Blinken is expected to hold talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Major foreign media have reported that it may be difficult for him to have an audience with President Xi Jinping.