Sino-US relations hit lowest level in 40 years

Anthony Blinken shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing. Credit: Leah Millis/Reuters

Beijing said its relations with Washington are at their lowest point in more than 40 years after a meeting between top officials.

During a long-awaited meeting in Beijing with By US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his colleague that Taiwan remains the biggest obstacle between the countries.

Mr. Qin said relations are at their lowest level since 1979.

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Despite hopes that there could be at least a slight thaw between Washington and Beijing, officials have cautiously signaled that «deep differences» remain.

The talks came amid US anger over an apparent Chinese incursion. spy balloons into US airspace in February, leading Mr. Blinken to postpone his planned trip until now.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller described the talks as «candid, meaningful and constructive.»< /p>

Mr. Blinken, he added, «made it clear that the United States will always stand up for the interests and values ​​of the American people and work with its allies and partners to advance our vision of a world that is free, open, and upholds a rules-based international order.» .

Taiwan has been a pressure ulcer between Washington and Beijing for decades as China claimed sovereignty over the island.

Tensions escalated last summer when two congressional delegations visited Taiwan over the course of several weeks, the first led by Nancy Pelosi. leader of the Democratic House of Representatives at the time.

And earlier this year, China sent 28 warplanes across the midline of the Taiwan Strait in a large-scale military exercise.

According to a senior State Department official , one of the goals of the meeting was to minimize the risk of «miscalculation».

Ahead of the talks, Mr. Blinken said that one of the key goals of the summit is to improve communication channels between the two countries.

Bill Gates with Xi Jinping gave hope for stronger US-China relations Photo: Yin Bogu/Xinhua via AP

While Taiwan remains a bone of contention, there are other issues on which countries stand a chance, including human rights and trade.

While both sides played down the chances of a major diplomatic breakthrough, there were hopes that there may be some areas of cooperation.

US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo are expected to visit China. over the next few months, and the Chinese Foreign Minister accepted Mr. Blinken's invitation to visit Washington.