Posted on 02/02/2023 8:34:15 PM PST by FarCenter
TOKYO -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's expected meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken next week signals his desire to stabilize relations with Washington as he faces economic headwinds at home.
The planned reception, first reported by the Financial Times and confirmed by U.S. sources, will likely set the tone for China's new foreign policy team -- top diplomat Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Qin Gang -- as they put together their diplomacy playbook.
"If President Xi meets Secretary Blinken, it will reinforce to the Chinese government that he is personally engaged in steering the relationship and that any moves Beijing makes must be in line with his chosen direction," said Ryan Hass, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
"Both the U.S. and China have a shared incentive to limit downside risks and demonstrate competence in managing the relationship," Hass, a former director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia at the National Security Council, said.
The two day visit, which starts Sunday, comes at a time when the relationship is in an "extraordinarily fraught state," Jude Blanchette, the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies told reporters in a briefing Monday.
Overnight, Taiwan detected five People's Liberation Army aircraft entering its air defense identification zone, and the Pentagon said the U.S. is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon spotted over U.S. airspace. Last week, a U.S. Air Force general made headlines by instructing officers to prepare for a possible military conflict with China over Taiwan in 2025.
This follows various statements from U.S. military leaders that offered different timelines. Retired Adm. Philip Davidson, the former head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, reiterated to Nikkei last week that he remains concerned that "the period between now and 2027" is a window in which China may use force against Taiwan
Regarding the different timelines, Blanchette said, "What we're effectively signaling is we have no idea, and I'm not sure we understand just how damaging that is."
The White House's goal, regarding Blinken's trip to Beijing, "is to basically fast-forward this Cold War to its detente phase, thereby skipping a Cuban Missile Crisis," Blanchette said.
Great! Let’s send a giant spy balloon over his country to see how they respond.
Watch out.
Blinken is a ‘fireman’ who tries to extinguish foreign policy fires with gasoline.
How frequently has A. Blinken been visiting China?
Seems like every time I turn around, I’m seeing that he has recently returned or will soon be returing?
I know the Biden Admin. has business policy to discuss.
I know. But don’t White House staff usually delegate more than one person to carry it out?
Sure would have been nice if we had a real Vice President to scoot up the process and support the staff.
They don’t dare send The Kamala on anything this dicey.
When it comes to foreign diplomacy, she’s all thumbs.
Winken to provide support for Xi when he is on shaky ground.
Typical.
Blinken will be cut in on the BiXiden Crime Family’s graft?
Blinken no more than Biden has any idea how to approach China. As a result he will get rolled once again and America will look stupid in the eyes of the world.
Biden’s close association with Chicoms is being revealed to the general populace soon.
He needs them on his side.
To cover for him and lie.
It does not bode well.
I thought it was some kind Xi Biden romance. Biden has come out several times bragging about their close relationship.
Biden claims he went on a camping holiday with Xi through Tibet.
“Blinken” ?
Bought. And Traitor.
Never Ever Forget.
The BlowBack is coming.
Xi is the Godfather.
Blinken is Frodo.
Good observation. Blinken travels to China, but no Chinese come to DC. It looks like Xi summons his servants and they jump.
Probably letting Blinken know they are going to attack Taiwan and to stand down or the big guys 10% will go bye bye.
Every time that Xi snaps his fingers. Xi likes to watch blinken kowtow before him when giving him orders.
oh how the Chinese are laughing
Great graphic. And so true.
Basic Propaganda 101 victory.
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