“This is not a strategic dialogue. At this stage there is no intention for a series of follow-up assignments. The assignments, if they follow, should really be based on the statement that we see tangible progress and tangible outcomes on the issues that we are continuing with China. ‘
It was important for the government to first meet with China on American grassland and after consultation with Asian and European allies, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Wednesday. Officials will discuss issues on which the two parties have ‘deep differences’, Psaki said.
“We intend to discuss our expectations and will openly explain Beijing’s actions and our concerns about the challenges it poses to the security and values of the United States and our allies and partners,” she said. ‘We will also talk about areas where we can work together, of mutual interest. We come to these discussions, of course, clear-eyed. The meeting also provides an opportunity to highlight how the United States will stand up for the rules-based international system and a free and open Indo-Pacific. ”
The US will approach China from a ‘position of strength’ and ‘at the end with our allies and partners’, Psaki said.
The meeting will take place after President Joe Biden made his first official call with President Xi Jinping of China last month after several weeks of silence. In that call, Biden Xi challenged a number of issues, including China’s ‘coercive and unfair economic practices’, the ‘oppression in Hong Kong’ and ‘human rights violations in Xinjiang’, among others, according to a reading of the call.
Biden announced the formation of a Pentagon China task force last month and sent a message that the US will not shy away from China.
In a speech to the State Department last week, Blinken discussed rivalry with ‘great powers’ such as China and called on the US to support workers to help China.
“China is the only country with the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power that seriously challenges the stable and open international system – all the rules, values and relationships that make the world work the way we want it to,” Blinken said in a speech.
Steven Overly contributed to this report.