With Biden looking to improve US-China relations, Beijing can ensure meetings are more than a masquerade
- Biden seems keen to show he wants warmer US-China ties, without actually holding out much hope for it. For Beijing, this is a chance to foster meaningful connections
But things appear to be quite different on the Chinese side. The official Xinhua news agency and much of the obviously officially approved social media have published numerous, even repetitive, comments that sound more like declarations of victory.
It would appear that practically the only consensus to emerge after the Vienna talks is for both China and the United States to maintain open lines of communication – in other words, that both sides can continue to talk.
What is the purpose of this series of attempts to promote high-level interaction between the two countries? Neither side appears to wish to discuss the answer. In fact, it looks like they are trying their best to avoid the topic altogether.
The Chinese media’s coverage of the latest meeting in Vienna appears to follow a common narrative – that the Chinese side has rebuked the US side.
For Sullivan and Blinken, the task of warming US relations with China is anything but easy, especially judging from the Chinese rebukes they received in Alaska and now, Vienna. Blinken’s decision to postpone his visit to China amid Chinese spying allegations angered Beijing, and his repeatedly expressed wish to resume the visit has not yet received an encouraging response.
Washington’s new China narrative is meant to reassure the world economy
It is looking increasingly as if both China and the US are engaged in a charade with no real purpose or relevance to their goals, even if each side clearly hopes to advance its own agenda. In this, Biden’s role has been to project a sincere effort to improve relations with China, though he also seems to be aware of the limited impact of his efforts and does not appear to harbour high hopes.
Still, he looks determined to show he is doing everything possible to achieve his mission, even as he appears to understand that the outcome depends entirely on China.
The state of the relationship can be aptly described as superficial, a masquerade in which both parties are hiding their true faces. What is undeniable is Biden has displayed an intention to improve US relations with China. It is crucial for Beijing to seize this opportunity during Biden’s tenure to foster meaningful connections. Failing to do so will result in a bleaker future for US-China relations.
Chen Gong is founder of the Anbound think tank