United States: China’s Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, has called on the United States to cease meddling in its internal affairs and refrain from harming its security.

The phone call with US Secretary of State Mr. Antony Blinken took place just days before Blinken’s anticipated visit to Beijing. In the call, Mr. Qin emphasized the importance of respecting China’s “core concerns,” such as the Taiwan issue, and urged the US to refrain from interfering in China’s internal matters or compromising its sovereignty, security, and development interests. The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement outlining Mr. Qin’s message on 14th June 2023.

In response, Mr. Blinken emphasized the need for open communication to avoid misinterpretation and conflict. He reiterated that the US would continue to raise areas of concern with China while exploring potential areas of cooperation. The US State Department shared these points following the call.

If the visit proceeds as planned, it will be the first visit to China by a US Secretary of State in five years and will be the highest-profile visit during President Mr. Joe Biden’s administration. The Mr. Biden administration has experienced tensions with Beijing on various fronts, including Taiwan, trade, and suspicions of Chinese spy activities.

While China’s foreign ministry has yet to confirm details of Mr. Blinken’s trip, a US official stated that he would be in Beijing on June 18th 2023. However, specifics were not provided. Mr. Blinken’s previous planned visit to China in February 2023 was cancelled due to escalating tensions surrounding the discovery and subsequent shooting down of suspected Chinese spy balloons in the US.

Since the balloon incidents, China has largely rejected official exchanges with the US. However, Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant US Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, recently visited Beijing, marking the highest-ranking US official visit since the balloon incidents. The talks were described as “candid.”

Tensions have also escalated due to visits to Taiwan by US politicians. China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force, conducted large-scale military exercises in response to former House Speaker Ms. Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled island in August 2020. China also condemned a meeting between current House Speaker Mr. Kevin McCarthy and Taiwanese President Ms. Tsai Ing-wen in April 2023.

Mr. Qin acknowledged the new difficulties and challenges in China-US relations this year and emphasized the joint responsibility to manage differences, promote exchanges and cooperation, and stabilize the relationship between the two countries.

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