Wang Yi has frosty meeting with Blinken

By Rhod Mackenzie

On Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing. During the meeting, Wang highlighted that while there has been an increase in positive interactions in the bilateral relations, there are also negative factors that are building up as China's core interests are challenged.

Mr. Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also urged the US side to refrain from interfering in China's internal affairs, suppressing China's development, or infringing upon China's sovereignty, security, and development interests.
Last November, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden met in San Francisco, jointly outlining the San Francisco Vision. Mr. Wang noted that, under the leadership of the two heads of state, China-US relations have generally stabilized. He added that dialogue, cooperation, and positive interactions in various fields have increased, which has been welcomed by both peoples and the international community. However, on the other hand, there are still some negative factors in China-US relations that need to be addressed. These include various disruptions and sabotage, as well as the suppression of China's legitimate rights to development and the continual challenge to China's core interests.

Wang emphasised that whether China-US relations will adhere to the correct path of stability and progress or repeat the cycle of spiralling downward is a significant issue facing both nations, testing their sincerity and capabilities.

It remains to be seen whether both sides will lead in international cooperation to address global issues for mutual and multilateral gains, or oppose and confront each other, even to the point of conflict, leading to losses for all.
Mr. Wang also highlighted that China's approach has remained consistent, with a focus on fostering a community with a shared future for humanity, accountability to the people, the world, and the future.
China's stance has been consistent, always adhering to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation proposed by President Xi. This commitment to stability, health, and sustainability in China-US relations is evident in China's actions.

China's demands have been consistent, always advocating for respect for each other's core interests. The US should not interfere in China's internal affairs, suppress China's development, or infringe upon China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, according to Wang.