US and China Seek to Reduce Tensions

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi held a “candid and constructive” exchange on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Indonesia on Thursday, in another attempt to address the ongoing tensions between the United States and China.

This meeting comes one day after Microsoft accused hackers linked to China of accessing the emails of US and other Western officials. According to an unnamed US official, Blinken told Wang that Washington would hold hackers who target US citizens accountable.

Beijing has denied involvement in the hacking operation and called the US the “world’s biggest hacking empire and global cyberthief”. The episode further exacerbates the already strained relations between the two nations, which have been at odds over several issues in recent years, including trade, Taiwan, China’s claims in the South China Sea and the US’s push against Chinese influence in the Asia-Pacific.

The US State Department said that Blinken used the meeting with Wang to “advance US interests and values”, including the promotion of a free, open and rules-based international order. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also said that she had held “productive” talks with Chinese officials during a trip to Beijing, adding that ties between the two nations are on “surer footing” as a result of the dialogue.

Despite the intensifying competition, leaders in Washington and Beijing have continued to stress that they are not seeking confrontation or a new Cold War.

To that end, Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last month, after which Xi said Beijing hoped to see the two countries overcome their differences and build “a sound and steady China-US relationship”. US climate envoy John Kerry is also set to visit China next week.

The US and China have engaged in a series of high-level talks in recent weeks in a bid to reduce tensions. It is hoped that the dialogue will lead to a better understanding of each nation’s interests and values, and pave the way for a more cooperative relationship going forward.