China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian officially welcomed the upcoming high-level meeting with the United States. China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, along with State Councilor Wang Yi, agreed to meet with Tony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, and Jake Sullivan, US National Security Advisor, in Alaska on March 18. Zhao added: “We require the US to treat China and Sino-US relations in an objective and rational manner, discard the Cold War and zero-sum thinking, and respect China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests.”
China’s English-languge Global Times did a roundup of various experts, basically looking for reasons for cautious optimism. They noted that the meeting was scheduled earlier in the new Biden administration’s term than expected. Next, “Chinese experts said it’s confirmed that the US was the one to send the invitation.” They added that “the US is being very careful and highly values ties with China, since it wouldn’t meet with China unless it’s fully prepared.” Finally, they praised the site-selection. Yang Xiyu of the China Institute of International Studies was quoted: “Compared with the other 48 states on its mainland, Alaska and Hawaii are less politically sensitive.”
