World news – Top Chinese diplomats from the United States clash at the beginning of the first talks about the Biden presidency

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) – The first high-level talks between the US and China over the Biden administration got off to a fiery start Thursday. Both sides sharply rebuked each other’s policies in a rare public display that underscored the level of bilateral tension. Preparations for the meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, based on visits by US officials to allied Japan and South Korea followed, marked by a series of moves by Washington showing its tough stance and blunt talks from Beijing.

« We will … discuss our deep concerns about actions by China, including in Xinjiang « Hong Kong, Taiwan, cyber attacks on the United States, economic coercion from our allies, » US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Chinese colleagues, with a high degree of unusually extensive back and forth in front of cameras. The Biden government has made it clear that it seeks to change China’s behavior, which has expressed the hope of resetting the relations that have been going on under former President D onald Trump had deteriorated drastically.

China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi responded with a 15-minute speech in Chinese while the US side waited for the translation.

« The United States continues its military force and financial strength He added hegemony to exercise long-standing jurisdiction and suppress other countries, « said Yang.

 » It abuses so-called notions of national security to impede normal trade and encourage some countries to attack China .

Throughout Yang’s monologue, US National Security Advisor Sullivan and other delegation officials shared notes with one another. In the end, Blinken held journalists in the room so he could reply.

What is usually a few minutes’ opening speech in front of journalists for such high-level meetings lasted more than an hour, and the two delegations argued about when to leave the media Space.

Thereafter, the United States accused China of being « great » while Chinese state media accused US officials of speaking too long and being « inhospitable ».

Both sides accused the other of to have violated diplomatic protocol. A US official said the two had initially agreed to have a two-minute opening speech from each of the directors.

« The Chinese delegation … appears to have arrived with the intent to be great and focus on public plays and drama about substance The official told reporters at the Anchorage Hotel where the meeting was held.

Many internet users on China’s social media said that Chinese officials were doing a good job in Alaska and that the US side had not shown any sincerity. </ Some even referred to the talks as the “Hongmen Banquet,” a historic event that took place 2000 years ago when a rebel leader invited another to a feast to assassinate him.

Nonetheless, the two sides met for another meeting on Thursday evening, and a senior official in the Biden administration said the first session was « substantive, serious and direct, » and far beyond what was originally intended « We used the meeting to set out our interests and priorities exactly as planned, and we heard the same thing from our Chinese colleagues, » said the official on the pool report, adding that one will be for Friday morning Third session is planned.

While much of Biden’s China policy is still being formulated, including how to deal with Trump-imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, his administration has so far had a stronger focus on democratic values ​​and allegations of human rights abuses by China

China firmly rejects US interference in its internal affairs such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

The Taiwan State Department said it expects the United States to inform them about the talks.

According to Washington, Blinken’s trip to Asia shows before meeting Chinese officials, as well as the US making contact with Eu Europe, India and other partners like the United States have strengthened their hands to face China since Biden took office in January.

Even the status of the meeting has become a sticking point. China insisted that it was a « strategic dialogue » based on bilateral mechanisms of the past few years. The US side declined, calling it a one-off session.

On the eve of the talks, the United States adopted a number of measures against China, including revoking Chinese telecommunications licenses, summons several Chinese information technology companies for national security concerns and Updated sanctions against China for democracy rollback in Hong Kong.

In addition to tensions, China on Friday indicted a Canadian citizen of espionage in a case embroiled in a broader diplomatic battle between Washington and Beijing.

During the talks on Thursday, the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Blinken asked whether the sanctions had been announced on purpose before the meeting.

Washington has said it is ready to work with China if it is in the interests of the Chinese USA lies, and cites climate policy and the as examples Coronavirus pandemic. Blinken said Washington hopes China can use its influence on North Korea to persuade it to give up its nuclear weapons.

Bonnie Glaser, an Asia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said tough statements from both sides were in the The run-up to the meeting would have created the risk of an exchange of allegations and claims.

Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Anchorage and Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom and Simon Lewis in Washington, as well as Yew Lun Tian in Beijing and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Edited by Mary Milliken, Grant McCool, Tony Munroe and Michael Perry

All offers were delayed by at least 15 minutes. Here is a full list of exchanges and delays.