US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York on Sept. 2022
David Dee Delgado | afp | Getty Images
BEIJING – China’s latest leadership appointments point to a greater emphasis on relations with the US.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi has joined the new Politburo, the second highest level of power, state media announced on Sunday. This despite expectations that he may retire.
The changes showed that Yang Jiechi, a longtime diplomat closely involved in US-China relations, did not remain in the Politburo. Yang headed the foreign affairs office of the party’s central committee and was widely expected to retire.
Qin Gang, China’s ambassador to the US, was also part of the list of new central committee members released on Saturday.
Qin has actively reached out to American society and business, while Wang’s comments during a recent trip to New York “indicate that there is a desire to move away from the intensely competitive relationship with the United States,” said Dali Yang, a professor of political science at the United States. The New York Times. University of Chicago.
“I think there may be a chance to ease tensions, I hope, given the challenges China faces to keep the Chinese economy growing,” Yang said.
He pointed out that the 1970s, during the Cultural Revolution, was another difficult period for China’s economy, but it was during this time that Chinese leader Mao Zedong decided to approach the US.
The global pandemic that began in early 2020 has restricted international travel and China’s strict Covid controls have made it difficult for diplomats to meet.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden have yet to meet in person since Biden took office. The two men had already met while Biden held other government positions.
Biden said he would meet with Xi if the Chinese leader attended the G-20 summit in November.
When asked last week, China’s Foreign Ministry declined to confirm Xi’s presence, but said it would release an update in time.
Russia-Ukraine war adds to tensions
Qi Yu, secretary of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has also been appointed to the central committee, state media announced on Saturday. This may interest you : Biden-Harris Administration Strengthens Monkeypox Response; HHS Secretary Becerra Declares Public Health Emergency.
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Tensions between the US and China have escalated under the Trump administration, which has used tariffs and sanctions to pressure China for criticism of unfair trade practices. Read also : IS AMERICA FOR SALE? China’s plan to replace the United States as a superpower.
The Biden administration later said the US was competing with China and launched many new restrictions, including this month a near-ban on US companies selling advanced chip technology to Chinese companies.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has strengthened its ties with allies, especially after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. China, which hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier that month, declined to call the attack an invasion.
However, there are some signs that China’s relationship with Russia has cooled a bit.
Le Yucheng, the vice foreign minister who said in December 2021 that “there is no limit” to China’s friendship with Russia, was removed from his post in June. Instead, he was appointed deputy head of the National Radio and Television Administration, without explanation.
