President Joe Biden’s claim that he seeks a thaw in relations with China hasn’t convinced China’s leaders. Yes, there was a long meeting on May 11 between National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan with State Councilor Wang Yi in Vienna, and it looks like China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao will be traveling to Washington this week to meet with his Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. But the State Department has now retracted earlier statements that it would lift sanctions against Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu, with whom Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wants to meet.
The semi-official Global Times May 23 pointed to experts who say that they don’t expect to see any significant progress in relations, given that the Biden administration’s basic strategic judgment about China remains unchanged. Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told GT that If the U.S. really wants dialogue, it should “stop provoking China on the Taiwan question, remove unilateral tariffs on Chinese products, lift sanctions on Chinese institutions and reduce obstacles for people-to-people exchanges.”
In an editorial today, Global Times points out that in its “feverish pursuit of `winning’ against China, Washington has repeatedly brandished its cudgel against China.” The U.S. claims that it wants a dialogue with China raises suspicions among the Chinese people. “Could this be another case of `weasel wishes the rooster a Happy New Year?” the daily asked incisively.
