Washington: The US and China will be on the negotiating table on March 18 amid a rift in relations. The meeting will take place in Anchorage, Alaska. In this, Foreign Minister Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan will talk to their Chinese counterpart on behalf of America. This is Biden Administration’s first interaction with China.
During the tenure of former US President Donald Trump, relations between the two countries had deteriorated significantly. In such a situation, this meeting can prove to be important in bringing the relationship back on track. However, before the meeting, the US has indicated a tough stance. It has said that it will ask China to clear the situation on issues such as atrocities on the Uyghur, Taiwan, Tibet, China’s interference in Hong Kong and the South China Sea.
A senior US official says that one should not expect too much from this meeting. There will be more emphasis on discussing priorities and differences rather than making any compromises. We think parts of the conversation can be difficult. At the same time, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that there are some issues on which President Joe Biden cannot hold back from voicing. These include issues related to human rights, economy and technology.
Disputes that do not let America and China become friends:
•China is continuously increasing its presence in Hong Kong. Those who support democracy in Hong Kong oppose it. The US openly supports supporters of democracy. It has also had an impact on its relations with China. This issue can also be discussed in the meeting between the two countries. Prior to the meeting, the US has banned 24 officers from Hong Kong and China. According to CNN, these restrictions were brought under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act. The act was passed by the US in response to China’s new National Security Law last year. China legally prohibited interference with foreigners.
•Human rights organizations say that China is suppressing the voices of Uyghur Muslims. They are being imprisoned for no reason. US President Joe Biden is known to be in favor of human rights. The bill has also been passed on this issue in the US Parliament. In such a situation, this issue may arise in the meeting with China.
•The biggest issue of the meeting between the US and China could be the corona pandemic. Corona has influenced America the most. The US still does not rely on data related to China’s virus. Recently, a team from the World Health Organization visited Wuhan, China. It is believed that the corona virus has spread all over the world from here. The team is yet to make the report public. The way China has overcome the corona and the rest of the countries are still struggling with it, it is viewed with suspicion.
•In South Asia, the US follows a strategy of keeping China under control by helping Taiwan. Taiwan was separated from China in 1949 to become a new country. China asserts its hold over it. The US is with Taiwan in this fight.