BEIJING(Reuters) – A visit to China by a senior U.S. State Department official has been criticized by a Chinese state-backed newspaper, which it claims is Washington’s attempt to reach out to Beijing rather than real intentions. Caused by a desire to pose as a party to the doing.
According to the Global Times, in a scathing commentary published on Sunday, Chinese experts argued that the United States was trying to establish a responsible image by conveying a “goodwill message” to the international community, implying That he is actively seeking contact with China. The paper suggested that the US was trying to blame China for a lack of communication or refusal to engage.
The criticism came as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Curtinbrink arrived in Beijing. The US State Department said the visit would involve discussions between the two superpowers on “major issues in bilateral relations”.
Relations between the U.S. and China have hit new lows recently, especially since U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blanken canceled a planned visit to China in February after an alleged Chinese spy balloon flew over U.S. airspace. was violated. Taiwan, which China claims as its own, and military activities in the South China Sea have further heightened tensions.
Amid these tensions, Laura Rosenberger, chairperson of the American Institute in Taiwan, arrived in Taipei on Monday for meetings with senior Taiwanese officials. He emphasized that the United States would not take part in Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election and expressed opposition to “external interference” in the voting process, as reported by Taiwan’s official Central News Agency.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking at a security summit in Singapore, criticized Beijing’s reluctance to engage in talks, saying it undermined efforts to maintain regional peace. China’s defense minister, Li Shangfu, who has been under US sanctions since 2018 over purchases of warplanes and equipment from Russia, declined an invitation to meet with Austin at the summit.
Global Times reported that experts are skeptical about America’s ability to inject positive energy into bilateral relations ahead of the next US presidential election. The newspaper cited an expert at a Chinese state think tank who highlighted that the US is willing to engage in provocation as well as engage in dialogue. “We have not seen any positive statement from the US regarding core interests or bilateral relations,” the expert added.
Regarding Curtinbrink’s visit, the newspaper suggested that no significant breakthroughs should be expected from it and that it should be viewed only as a working-level engagement.
