Bolstered by allies, Biden officials take blunt message to first China talks

[webfact]

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the implementation of the American Rescue Plan in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 15, 2021. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

By Michael Martina, Yew Lun Tian and Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States will take an uncompromising stance in talks with China on Thursday in Alaska, officials have said, in the first face-to-face meetings between senior officials from the two rivals since U.S. President Joe Biden took office.

Beijing has called for a reset to ties, now at their lowest in decades, but Washington has said the Alaska talks will be a one-off, and any future engagement depends on China improving its behavior.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan will meet China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi and State Councilor Wang Yi in Anchorage, fresh off of visits to allies Japan and South Korea aimed at emphasizing the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific in the face of Beijing's rise.

Blinken blasted China on Wednesday for its aggression while in Japan, and urged South Korea to work with the United States to prevent a "dangerous erosion of democracy" in the region.

"China is using coercion and aggression to systematically erode autonomy in Hong Kong, undercut democracy in Taiwan, abuse human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet, and assert maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law," Blinken said at the start of a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong.

It was a measure of the bluntness that has come to mark the U.S. posture toward Beijing under Biden, as the world's two largest economies search for a semblance of stable ground on which to base ties, after they sank under former President Donald Trump.

The Anchorage meeting – the first high-level face-to-face exchange since June when Blinken's predecessor, Mike Pompeo, held a frosty meeting with Yang in Hawaii – is likely to be short on diplomatic niceties, and outcomes.

Due to COVID restrictions, there are no plans for a shared meal, which had been a feature of recent exchanges. And there are indications that the two sides have divergent expectations.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has referred to the talks as a "high-level strategic dialogue".

China hopes the meeting will help set a broad framework for resuming engagement, rather than resolve specific issues, a person in Beijing familiar with planning for the talks told Reuters.

But Biden officials have been explicit that Alaska is not a return to regular dialogue, which under previous administrations did little to resolve Washington's concerns with Beijing.

"We expect that there are parts of the conversation that could be difficult," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

A senior U.S. administration official said at a briefing that Washington would be looking at "deeds, not words" if Beijing wanted to change the tone of the relationship.

'FIRST ROUND OF A BOXING MATCH'

On paper, at least, the context for bilateral relations has changed for Beijing since Trump, with his go-it-alone "America First" foreign policy. Biden has pledged to restore American alliances, and its partners appear ready to oblige.

The United States, Japan, India and Australia last week held a leaders' summit, pledging to cooperate on maritime, cyber, and economic security, issues vital to the four democracies in the face of challenges from China.

And the Biden administration has embarked on a "Europe roadshow", what U.S. officials have been calling daily engagement with Europe on issues including China's rise.

Evan Medeiros, an Asia specialist in the Obama administration who now teaches at Georgetown University, called the Alaska talks "the first round of a boxing match" that was unlikely to resolve any major issues, but could lower the chance of future miscalculations between the rivals.

"I think it's largely going to be an airing of grievances on both sides," Medeiros said.

ON U.S. SOIL

Sullivan told reporters last week he did not expect Trump's Phase 1 trade deal, or details on tariffs or export controls, to be a major topic in Alaska, and noted many of the economic specialists needed to reach detailed agreements would be absent.

Sullivan said the United States would use the meeting to convey to China its strategic intention and concerns with China's actions, including the rollback of democracy in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, strains across the Taiwan Strait, economic coercion over Australia, and harassment in waters disputed with Japan around the Senkaku Islands.

Those are areas where Beijing says Washington should not meddle.

Biden officials have said it was important to them that their first high-level contact with China happen in the United States, with Alaska a symbolic reference to the country's enduring Pacific power.

It will be the second consecutive time in less than a year that Yang has flown to U.S. soil. Despite this gesture, seen by Chinese observers as a sign of Beijing's goodwill, there appears little hope, on both sides, for breakthroughs.

"Even if there is some initial cooperation on concrete matters like climate change, the positive effect of that is insignificant in the face of relations marked by competition and confrontation on all fronts," Shi Yinhong a professor at Renmin University in Beijing told Reuters.

(Reporting by Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom, and Steve Holland in Washington; Humeyra Pamuk in Seoul; and Yew Lun Tian and Gabriel Crossley in Beijing; Editing by Michael Perry and Lisa Shumaker)

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-18

 

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[PatOngo]

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

"China is using coercion and aggression to systematically erode autonomy in Hong Kong, undercut democracy in Taiwan, abuse human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet, and assert maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law,"

It's high time to hold them accountable!

[Tug]

Excellent start imo the Biden TEAM will hold chinas feet to the coals and not be laughed away like trump let’s all hope a constructive dialogue and agreements can be made eventually .with our ALLIES at our side we are stronger together 

[bluesofa]

59 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

It's high time to hold them accountable!

I'd agree, as the only idea of accountability China has is to themselves.

[sscc]

 

 

Quote :

"China is using coercion and aggression to systematically erode autonomy in Hong Kong, undercut democracy in Taiwan, abuse human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet, and assert maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law," Blinken said 

 

"  The United States, Japan, India and Australia last week held a leaders' summit, pledging to cooperate on maritime, cyber, and economic security, issues vital to the four democracies in the face of challenges from China.  "    

 

PRC made some changes about Hong Kong in the past year.  PRC got the liberty to proceed and continue on further changes deemed necessary in the future.    All the warning and talk about Hong Kong made by  UK, USA, Australia, Canada etc are just irrelevant,      period. 

 

Taiwan had been operating independently for many decades and will continue for a while.   PRC is committed to take over Taiwan in future.  This is non-compromising from PRC point of view.   That day will come,  just when ??  

 

Last week a top USA General Commander mentioned possibly military take-over in the next 6 years.   Why he mentioned 6 years,  why not 5 or 10 ?    PRC government administration is 5 years each term.  Chairman Xi had been at the top post for about 8-8.5 years so far.   Xi will likely be there for 15 years in total  ( Think that will be the limit for his health reason ).    So there could be  6.5-7.0 years remaining under Xi .   That is why this USA General estimated 6 year time frame.  

My guess is within the next 15 years. 

 

Quote  :     "  The United States, Japan, India and Australia last week held a leaders' summit, pledging to cooperate on maritime, cyber, and economic security, issues vital to the four democracies in the face of challenges from China.  " 

 

About QUAD,  what was the news coming Virtual 4-nation Conference days ago  ?  It was about 1 billion vaccines to be available.  

The Reality is more like this ...... 

Australia will side with USA.     Japan will side with USA and side with $$$ too. 

 India will side with Indian own agenda. 

 

This face-to-face Alaska meeting on March 18, 2021 is gathering under a NEW USA administration and attended by new face representing USA.    It is necessary and nothing else. 

[RichardColeman]

I'm not a fan of Biden, but if he can give the Chinese and Russians more than hot air, I'll start giving him more air time. But I fully expect nothing to happen other than blah blah blah and no action.

[Jeffr2]

33 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I'm not a fan of Biden, but if he can give the Chinese and Russians more than hot air, I'll start giving him more air time. But I fully expect nothing to happen other than blah blah blah and no action.

How to deal with China and Russia aren't easy issues.  Massively complex.  But at least he'll try to hold them to account.  Unlike Trump who hid info from intelligence agencies on what was going on with Russia.  And did NOTHING.  Just praise Putin.

As for China, he did a bit, but not much.

We'll see.  But so far, he's off to a fair start.  Time will tell.

[curlylekan]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

On paper, at least, the context for bilateral relations has changed for Beijing since Trump, with his go-it-alone "America First" foreign policy. Biden has pledged to restore American alliances, and its partners appear ready to oblige

Certain people sure love to pounce on Trump for his "Go-it-Alone" ways, but what was going on with China started occurring in large part while Obama was in office. Thankfully, through Trump's actions, Americans and other parts of the world started to wake up to the realization that China is beginning to run the world in their way, pushing over anyone who won't do it their way. But Trump only brought the conflict to the forefront, he didn't work on a solid resolution, which I believe is best handled by bringing like-minded countries/Western democracies or enemies of China together. I don't think Trump acknowledged that the world is too small and China too economically powerful for any country to "Go-it-Alone". Thankfully, Biden understands this. Lets just hope Biden doesn't fall for the cunningness of the PRC, like Obama did. Trump, saw right through this, but only in the areas he wanted to. However, I think winning over the EU is going to be hard. Merkel seems hard pressed to do the hard things that need to be done if those hard things mean anything negative for Germany, yet she loves to tell other European countries what to do. I don't see any leader, of an country being able to persuade Germany to harden any ties the country has with either Russia or China. Merkel loves the "talk-the-talk", but she is not good at "walking-the walk." Trump was good at that, even if he didn't go about it in the most charismatic or humane way.

[placeholder]

16 minutes ago, curlylekan said:

Certain people sure love to pounce on Trump for his "Go-it-Alone" ways, but what was going on with China started occurring in large part while Obama was in office. Thankfully, through Trump's actions, Americans and other parts of the world started to wake up to the realization that China is beginning to run the world in their way, pushing over anyone who won't do it their way. But Trump only brought the conflict to the forefront, he didn't work on a solid resolution, which I believe is best handled by bringing like-minded countries/Western democracies or enemies of China together. I don't think Trump acknowledged that the world is too small and China too economically powerful for any country to "Go-it-Alone". Thankfully, Biden understands this. Lets just hope Biden doesn't fall for the cunningness of the PRC, like Obama did. Trump, saw right through this, but only in the areas he wanted to. However, I think winning over the EU is going to be hard. Merkel seems hard pressed to do the hard things that need to be done if those hard things mean anything negative for Germany, yet she loves to tell other European countries what to do. I don't see any leader, of an country being able to persuade Germany to harden any ties the country has with either Russia or China. Merkel loves the "talk-the-talk", but she is not good at "walking-the walk." Trump was good at that, even if he didn't go about it in the most charismatic or humane way.

It's not just that Trump used a go-it-alone approach. But he actually antagonized America's allies with the ridiculous Trade War he waged on them. And he antagonized them in other ways as well.  Even if the grounds for his actions against them were valid, and they mostly weren't, their practices would still not amount to much compared to the challenges posed by China.

[RocketDog]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

The United States, Japan, India and Australia last week held a leaders' summit, pledging to cooperate on maritime, cyber, and economic security, issues vital to the four democracies in the face of challenges from China.

This is what it will take, with support from many other countries, for the world to sober up to the threat posed by rising Chinese aggression and dominant intentions. 

The prim political correctness that has been practiced up to this point has only emboldened Chinese ambitions. It's time to speak bluntly despite the inevitable wounded protests from the CCP regarding its benign intentions. 

China has no intentions of helping anybody but itself. China is the sworn enemy of freedom wherever it is practiced. The CCP has developed and perfected the instruments of repression and control using its own cowed citizenry and is now actively exporting it. 

[Isaan sailor]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I'm not a fan of Biden, but if he can give the Chinese and Russians more than hot air, I'll start giving him more air time. But I fully expect nothing to happen other than blah blah blah and no action.

I echo that sentiment.  His administration is failing at the border, but maybe they can toughen up with China.  Remember, actions speak louder than words.

[TKDfella]

12 hours ago, PatOngo said:

It's high time to hold them accountable!

Do you really think the Chinese gov.is going to back down for anything? I doubt China even cares. China probably knows that Biden is under pressure to cut the USA's military budget while China itself is still increasing its military budget, this year apparently in line with previous years (see https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1217416.shtml#:~:text=China increased its 2021 defense,wreckage of COVID-19 pandemic.)

although I think still less than the US. However, the recent reports that China has now the biggest Navy in the world, while not necessarily an advantage over anyone else, does serve to boost their confidence. Imo, China will continue to goad other countries just to see how far others are prepared to go and although the Taiwan situation is years old, China will act one day.

[unblocktheplanet]

Scrolling through the TV comments, it seems the US is the bulwark of democracy. No thinking person likes what China is doing in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong but look what the US is doing in so many countries. So who's the aggressor, really.

We need to make friends, not enemies.

[Sent from my iPhone.]

[Scott]

Troll post reported and removed.

 

[placeholder]

50 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Scrolling through the TV comments, it seems the US is the bulwark of democracy. No thinking person likes what China is doing in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong but look what the US is doing in so many countries. So who's the aggressor, really.

We need to make friends, not enemies.

[Sent from my iPhone.]

Well Biden is making friends again with the EU, Japan and Canada. But given China's aggressive territorial ambitions, how do you make friends with them. Now it's going after Bhutan. 

No Sanctuary: China's New Territorial Dispute with Bhutan

https://www.fpri.org/article/2020/07/china-territorial-dispute-bhutan/

[onthedarkside]

Another trolling post regarding President Biden and China has been removed.

[Sailboat]

 I've never respected someone who tells. It is a leftis addiction so I understand the behavior but don't respect it.

[Scott]

Troll post removed.  

 

[Jeffr2]

12 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

I echo that sentiment.  His administration is failing at the border, but maybe they can toughen up with China.  Remember, actions speak louder than words.

The rise in immigrants started last year, while Trump was president.  Sure, it's gotten worse because they think Biden will help them.  But it's also due to the pandemic and 2 hurricanes in CA.

In the end, it's massively complex.  No easy answers. 

[John Drake]

18 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I'm not a fan of Biden, but if he can give the Chinese and Russians more than hot air, I'll start giving him more air time. But I fully expect nothing to happen other than blah blah blah and no action.

Biden and his team deserve credit for the hard line they have imposed verbally.

Trump deserved credit for saying he was going to get tough with China.

Trump's words, however, were worthless. He ended up begging Xi to buy soybeans and backing off restrictions on Chinese tech companies. 

So, I will wait to see if Biden's actions match his words. I hope so. Until  they do not, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

[TKDfella]

Well seems they didn't get off to a good start with China telling the US to solve its own human rights problem citing BLM etc. see @MSN https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chinese-officials-suggest-the-us-should-handle-its-own-human-rights-problems-and-not-meddle-in-chinas-affairs/ar-BB1eJPU0?li=BBnb7Kz

[Lucifer999]

Every country on the planet is run by the same entity, the rest is social engineering and theater ... 

[rcuthbert]

The Chinese lectured the USA on human rights abuses, and the Secretary of State apologized.

Biden threatens Putin.

Biden's 3 falls on Air Force One's stairs are blamed on the wind - yet the officer's hats stayed put.

The USA a is perceived as being weak by China, Russia, and the Mullahs.

The Chinese view the USA ruling class as being Baizuo: (White Liberal)

"Baizuo

Baizuo (pronounced "bye-tswaw) is a Chinese epithet meaning naive western educated person who advocates for peace and equality only to satisfy their own feeling of moral superiority. A baizuo only cares about topics such as immigration, minorities, LGBT and the environment while being obsessed with political correctness to the extent that they import backwards Islamic values for the sake of multiculturalism.

The Chinese see the baizuo as ignorant and arrogant westerners who pity the rest of the world and think they are saviours."

 

[Kwasaki]

Well before the business attack if I can call it that on China by USA, I think all it does is alienate themselves from Asians. 

A lot of kids in our village in schools and colleges are learning Chinese the M one,  which they like better than learning American English. 

So I guess that shows Thailands position maybe.

[Jeffr2]

30 minutes ago, rcuthbert said:

The Chinese lectured the USA on human rights abuses, and the Secretary of State apologized.

Biden threatens Putin.

Biden's 3 falls on Air Force One's stairs are blamed on the wind - yet the officer's hats stayed put.

The USA a is perceived as being weak by China, Russia, and the Mullahs.

The Chinese view the USA ruling class as being Baizuo: (White Liberal)

"Baizuo

Baizuo (pronounced "bye-tswaw) is a Chinese epithet meaning naive western educated person who advocates for peace and equality only to satisfy their own feeling of moral superiority. A baizuo only cares about topics such as immigration, minorities, LGBT and the environment while being obsessed with political correctness to the extent that they import backwards Islamic values for the sake of multiculturalism.

The Chinese see the baizuo as ignorant and arrogant westerners who pity the rest of the world and think they are saviours."

 

Show a link proving that the Secretary of State apologized. Otherwise, recant.

What a bizarre post.

[Jeffr2]

19 hours ago, TKDfella said:

Well seems they didn't get off to a good start with China telling the US to solve its own human rights problem citing BLM etc. see @MSN https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chinese-officials-suggest-the-us-should-handle-its-own-human-rights-problems-and-not-meddle-in-chinas-affairs/ar-BB1eJPU0?li=BBnb7Kz

The US does have issues with human rights. But it pales in comparison to China's. If you've spent a lot of time there you'd understand.

[placeholder]

2 hours ago, Lucifer999 said:

Every country on the planet is run by the same entity, the rest is social engineering and theater ... 

I'm betting you mean the Girl Scouts. They're putting something in those cookies, right?

[Jeffr2]

1 minute ago, placeholder said:

I'm betting you mean the Girl Scouts. They're putting something in those cookies, right?

Probably the Illuminati...LOL

[placeholder]

Just now, Jeffr2 said:

Probably the Illuminati...LOL

I think that's the same thing.

[sscc]

1 hour ago, Jeffr2 said:

Show a link proving that the Secretary of State apologized. Otherwise, recant.

What a bizarre post.

 

In Alaska,  subsequent to China Envoy Yeng attacked American counterpart on subject of minding their own human rights in America,   USA Secretary said that USA got own issue about human rights w/racial problem and countered  that USA tackles the problem openly and transparently instead of sweeping under the floor mats.   

This was on Youtube,  you can look for it.  I saw it and wouldn't care to post link.