(by Andrea Pinto) There are many reasons for friction between the United States and China: Taiwan, free trade, the microchip industry, human rights, support for Russia and the Belt & Road Initiative. Just to mention the most important, leaving aside the question of the alleged spy balloons and the military training base in Cuba.
The diplomatic initiatives are weak to try to re-establish relations between the two countries to avert another war in the Indo-Pacific whose proportions would be greater than the ongoing conflict in Europe and would involve reluctantly several countries globally, thus presaging the onset of WWIII
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The most concrete result of the trip by the head of the US State Department Antony Blinen was the pledge to escalate diplomatic engagements with additional high-level US visits in the coming months, including possible trips by the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and the Secretary of Commerce Gina Raymond. Earlier this month, Chinese Defense Minister Li declined an invitation to meet with the US defense secretary Lloyd Austin at an international security summit.
To understand the outcome of the Blinken meetings held in Beijing, the American president Joe Biden took care of it and yesterday gave the "dictator" to Xi Jinping during an electoral fundraising event in California, commenting on the story of the Chinese spy balloons shot down over the US skies shortly after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's mission to mend bilateral relations: “The reason Xi got very angry when I had that balloon shot down with two train cars full of spy equipment is that he didn't know it was there".
"No, I'm serious. That's the great embarrassment for dictators, when they don't know what happened. He didn't have to go where he was. He was blown off course through Alaska and then down across the United States and he didn't know it. When he was shot down he was very embarrassed and denied that he was even there. We are now in a situation where he wants to be in a relationship again. Antony Blinken just went down there. He has done a good job and it will take some time”.
Biden then said that we need to worry about China but not too much because "has real financial difficulties”.
"Una grave violation of China's political dignity, an absurd remark, a highly irresponsible provocation, which does not reflect reality and contravenes diplomatic etiquette“, reacted the Chinese foreign spokesman.
China does not want to activate military communications channels
The United States, through Secretary of State Blinken's mission, has pressed its request for military communication channels with China and has expressed concern over reports that China is planning a military training facility in Cuba.
Establishing military communications is essential to reducing friction between the two powers, he said Sarah Beran, White House National Security Council director for China and Taiwan affairs: “This is an absolutely useful way to manage crisis communication and ensure there are no miscommunications or misperceptions of each other's intentions".
Blinken said during his visit to China that the United States has "deep concerns" about Chinese military activities in Cuba after The Wall Street Journal reported that Beijing was planning a new training facility there: “This is something we will be monitoring very, very closely and we have been very clear about it. We will protect our homeland and our interests”.
During Blinken's visit to Beijing it was agreed to mitigate the rivalries to avoid conflicts, but no concrete steps have been taken.
China has complained that US sanctions are an obstacle to military dialogue.
In this regard, to cite an example, the Chinese defense minister Li Shang Fu was fined in 2018 for purchasing fighter jets and equipment from Russia's top arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.
The lack of open channels of communication between the two nations has sparked international jitters, alarming China's neighboring countries.
The US State Department's top diplomat for East Asia Daniel Kritenbrink said effective and responsible management of the US-China relationship will only be possible if it is a “two-way street".