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US-China relations
ChinaDiplomacy

Expect more US-China engagement this year despite ‘differences’ and ‘intense competition’: Antony Blinken

  • In interview at World Economic Forum in Davos, top American diplomat says the two powers are committed to collaborating in areas of ‘mutual interest’
  • He says Washington is committed to maintaining status quo in Taiwan and warns against ‘disruptive’ moves such as ‘the use of force’

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) speaks with American journalist Thomas Friedman at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Kawala Xie
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said there would be more engagement between Washington and Beijing in the coming year despite the complexities in their relationship.
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In an interview with American journalist Thomas Friedman at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, Blinken said Washington and Beijing were committed to collaborating in areas of mutual interest in spite of the many “differences” in their relationship.

He also said the US was committed to ensuring the status quo in Taiwan remained unchanged and warned against “disruptive” moves such as “the use of force”.

“Our fundamental interest – the fundamental interest of countries around the world – is to make sure that peace and stability is maintained in the Taiwan Strait, that any differences between Beijing and Taiwan are resolved peacefully,” he said.

“And that’s actually one of the hallmarks of the success of the relationship between the United States and China, since the establishment of diplomatic relations has actually been the management of the Taiwan issue.”

Relations between Washington and Beijing have largely deteriorated in recent years, particularly over Taiwan, where independence-leaning presidential candidate William Lai Ching-te from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party was elected as the island’s next leader over the weekend.
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Beijing has warned that any separatist moves would be “harshly punished” following the DPP’s victory on Saturday.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

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