Xuefei Chen Axelsson
Chinese high-ranking officials Yang Jiechi who is a member of the Politburo in China and chief in Foreign Affairs and Wang Yi who is State Councilor and Foreign Minister held a frank, direct and transparent talk with their American counterparts Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan who is Vice Secretary of Defence in Anchorage in Alaska, USA.
The direct style was led by Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State of the Biden Administration and followed by Jake Sullivan, Advisor of Defence. This was the first high level meeting between the US and China. The two side all expressed their stance.
Blinken said he just came back from American Allies, the best allies South Korea and Japan. They all concerned about the talks and they like to talk and solve the problem through peaceful means. What they concerned is rule-based world order.
But analysts held that what he said is actually American rule based order. He also mentioned Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan issue. He said they are not merely internal affairs of China.
And Jake Sullivan said he liked to hear the frank and open discussions about various issues.
Thus, Chinese representative, Yang Jiechi responded that China rejected the American idea of interfering in China’s domestic affairs. Xinjiang, Tibet and Taiwan are all part of China and China will do its own affairs well.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that the US also has human right violations for example against the black people. The US also launched wars in other countries and caused thousands of civilians killed and many more being displaced.
Yang said the US should stop interfering others internal affairs with their long arms.
Overall, Yang said what he thought was relevant and with more frank attitude.
Councilor Wang Yi also complained about America’s sanctions against Hong Kong personnel saying this was not the right way to treat guests.
Overall, the two sides for the first time with open and equal attitude to talk each other and voiced what they thought are the most important for themselves.
So the next step is how do you deal with it. If you are friends and like to care about the other side, then you will avoid the painful part. But if you are not friendly, then you will just use the needle to hit hard the painful part.
The EU now begins to use the needle first to launch sanctions against four Xinjiang people, obviously interfering China’s internal affairs.
China also revenged with sanctions against ten European parliamentarians and organizations.
It seems to me that we really come to an era that both sides like to choose a way to irritate the other, criticise the other and complain about the other, instead of giving courtesy to each other and seek further cooperation.
Who should change first? I think it will depend on who can change first. Both the US and EU are old and have been late for change or do not like to change the good old days. So it might be China that should change first. In my opinion, changing first doesn’t mean fail, but be pragmatic and seek win win situation.
On the other hand, facing US and EU’s groundless accusations, China can be fed up too. Then the young generation of the US diplomats are the hope to change. They are young, flexible and energetic, thus they can be more pragmatic and change their mind to seek cooperation.
It is hard to say. My wish is that they should realize that they are all tigers and if they fight each other, the world will be shaken to pieces. If they join hands, mankind will still have change to keep its prosperity and continue to develop.