The head of Chinese diplomacy visiting the United States to “maintain dialogue”. Middle East and Sino-Russian rapprochement on the menu of discussions

2023-10-25 14:36:24

MONDE – Are the United States and China, long-time rivals, heading towards a warming of their relations? About twenty days after the visit of a delegation of American senators to Beijing, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, will begin a visit to Washington on Thursday, October 26, 2023, where he will be received by the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken. This trip, which could be used to prepare for a visit by Xi Jinping to the USA in November, comes in the wake of the multiple contacts carried out in recent months between the two parties to “manage responsibly” tensions linked to numerous issues, such as Taiwan, the Sino-Russian rapprochement, Chinese influence in the Middle East or even economic, technological and military competition between the two powers.

In February, the American Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs postponed his visit to China, which was to serve to continue the appeasement initiated at the end of 2022 in Bali (Indonesia) by a encounter between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden. But the detection of a Chinese spy balloon in United States airspace had just caused yet another diplomatic crisis between Beijing and Washington. Antony Blinken will not visit China until June, to “stabiliser” bilateral relations. “My hope and expectation is that we will have better communications, better engagement in the future”he declared after his meeting with President Xi Jinping, who expressed his country’s wish to “see a healthy and stable Sino-American relationship”.

In October, a delegation of American senators went to Beijing to call for “manage our relationships responsibly”. The head of Chinese diplomacy, Wang Yi, hoped that this visit would help the United States better understand China and “to consider Sino-American relations with more objectivity”.

Containing Chinese influence in the Middle East?

Here he is in turn invited to make a two-day visit to Washington, still within the framework “multiple contacts” aimed at easing tensions between the two powers. The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs will meet his American counterpart on Thursday October 26 to “pursue [leurs] efforts to maintain open communication channels” et “manage our competition responsibly”.

If the State Department or the White House have not disclosed any information on the program of Wang Yi’s visit nor on a possible meeting with Joe Biden, this trip could serve to prepare for the arrival of Xi Jinping, expected in November on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California.

These efforts, aimed at “maintain a dialogue” et “calm tensions down”, are not easy, as they have intensified in recent months. The issues on which the United States and China differ are numerous and everything seems to pit Beijing against Washington. “It is natural that two great powers find themselves in competition in areas such as trade, technology and diplomacy among others”justified an American senator during his visit at the beginning of October.

On the agenda, undoubtedly: the situation in the Middle East and Chinese influence in the region, the Sino-Russian rapprochement, the Taiwanese question and “technico-commercial” relations, generating multiple sanctions from the two countries.

Last week, Beijing criticized the United States’ decision to block a UN resolution, proposed by Brazil, calling for a “humanitarian break” in the Gaza Strip. In this regard, the Biden administration intends “incite” China to adopt “a more constructive approach” in the region, where it extends its influence. After achieving a coup as a mediator by facilitating the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Beijing expressed its desire to play a diplomatic role in the Israel-Hamas conflict by supporting “granting the Palestinian people their legitimate rights and redirecting the Palestinian question towards a peaceful solution”.

Taiwan, Russia and sanctions

Another point of contention: the rapprochement between Beijing and Moscow, the subject of international sanctions since the invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin was visiting China in mid-October to meet President Xi Jinping. The two heads of state plead, as we know, for a multipolar world opposed to Western hegemony, particularly American. The head of the Kremlin had described his counterpart as “solid, calm, efficient and reliable partner”. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the two countries have strengthened their ties, particularly commercial ties, which are increasingly crucial for Russia, which thanks to them is mitigating the impact of Western economic sanctions.

China criticizes the United States for its rapprochement with Asian countries, which it considers as a clear desire to “contain” and “encircle” it.

The Taiwanese question is also a subject of tension between the two powers. Beijing claims to be the sole legitimate government of China and claims all territories administered by Taiwan, officially called the “Republic of China”. The island does not have a seat in the United Nations, replaced since 1971 by Beijing following its recognition. China is increasing, through air and maritime intrusions, the pressure on Taiwan, which is banking on unprecedented support from Washington, including on the military level.

Added to these questions are direct rivalries, particularly on the commercial, economic and technological levels. Since taking office, the Biden administration has increased sanctions against its rival. One of his first measures banned Americans from investing in the shares of Chinese defense and surveillance companies. In August, President Joe Biden issued an executive order restricting certain investments in China’s quantum computing, advanced semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors.

In response to multiple waves of American sanctions, China imposed restrictions on exports of two metals (gallium and germanium), of which it is the main world producer and which are essential for the manufacture of semiconductors.