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Diplomacy
OpinionComment
Brian P. Klein
Brian P. Klein

Opinion | Behind the drama in Alaska, US-China relations are really the same old story

  • The latest high-level meeting had plenty of drama, but the plot is growing stale. Neither side’s opening position has changed much in the past decade
  • From China’s perspective, unless the US treats it with ‘respect’, relations won’t get much better

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Brian P. Klein
It’s been less than a week since the United States and China met in Anchorage, Alaska, their first high-level meeting after Joe Biden became president. Reports of a testy exchange quickly swept the media circuit, with implications that the relationship was deteriorating right in front of everyone’s eyes.
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This was no ordinary diplomatic tête-à-tête. There was strong language instead of a banquet. No agreements were hammered out and there was nothing to sign or announce.

Despite the media blitz, none of this should come as a surprise. Both sides played to the camera in a made-for-TV-moment where Beijing, Washington, and their respective audiences back home got exactly what they wanted – an image of toughness and resolve. In that limited sense, the meeting was a complete success. 

Things could have gone worse. The talks could have been cancelled at the last minute, either side could have refused to continue after the opening remarks, or diplomats could have been recalled from capitals in protest.

That would have sent an unambiguous message that tensions were not only rising, but that the relationship itself was fraying. Clearly, both sides saw that a managed diplomatic sparring match was better for their ratings than cancelling the show before airtime.

02:23

Gloves off at top-level US-China summit in Alaska with on-camera sparring

Gloves off at top-level US-China summit in Alaska with on-camera sparring
As expected, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken took a firm stance on human rights and political issues. He led with remarks on the US following a rules-based system. He went on to highlight the US’ “deep concerns with actions by China, including in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, cyber attacks on the United States”. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan added that US allies were also concerned about China’s actions.
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