China-US talks in Vienna. Something new to expect?

Published: May 15,2023

By staff writer  

Chinese and American officials met on May 10 and 11 in Vienna – Austria, a development that caught the world attention. Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held talks with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, where their discussion were said to last more than 10 hours and the issues on their agenda included China-US bilateral relations, the Taiwan question, the Ukraine conflict and the Asia-Pacific situation. Media sources described the talks as constructive. 

Although the international community viewed the China-US meeting as a good step in the right direction to ease tension between the two countries, political analysts opine that it is not easy to say that the two sides will make a break through to iron out their differences, as the hostile US policy on China is well known. Chinese netizens also expressed doubt that the US can change its hostile attitude toward China. Many netizens said they do not believe that Washington would change its stance, especially on the Taiwan question. 

For such bilateral meetings to be meaningful, the US side must be sincere and avoid a mismatch between good sounding political statements and their actions. First of all, the containment of the rise of China is high on the US agenda and is using all possible means to contain and suppress China. The Washington administration believes that in order to keep the status quo of its hegemony, no other country should rise above the US economically and militarily. In the eyes of US, China is considered as a threat and an enemy. China’s biggest crime is being the second largest economy at the same time building its military might as a super power. 

Secondly the US does not respect China’s sovereignty; and it will always poke its nose in China’s internal problems, and want to prevent the reunification of China.  In fact, the US has interest in provoking a proxy war where it has been supplying arms to pro Taiwan independence separatists. Although the US claims to recognize the “One China Principle” but the words are inconsistent with actions. 

From the Bali talks to Vienna Chinese official have always made it clear that the correct way for China and the US to get along is mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. The communication and dialogue between the two sides will always be a vicious circle of endless meetings if there is no commitment by the US to change the aggressive perception and foreign policy towards China.