The first direct, high-level dialogue, under Joe Biden Administration, was held on 18-189 March 2021 in Anchorage, Alaska, USA. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Chinese Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the dialogue.
The dialogue was an essential step to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state in their telephone discussion. The dialogue was decided by the two presidents personally during a telephonic conversation on the eve of Chinese New Year.
During the dialogue, the two sides shepherded candid, in-depth, long, and positive communication on national and foreign policies, China-U.S. relations, and major global and regional issues of common apprehensions. The dialogue was timely, helpful and develops mutual understandings and harmony.
The two sides agreed to follow the true spirit of the telephone discussion between the two presidents to sustain dialogue and communication, conduct reciprocally beneficial cooperation, circumvent misunderstanding and miscalculation, envision conflict and confrontation, and stimulate sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations. Both sides expressed keenness to continue such a high-level strategic communiqué.
China has made clear its strong position on issues concerning its sovereignty, sanctuary, and development interests, which is believed that the U.S. side comprehends more clearly. The Chinese side has unequivocally indicated that sovereignty and territorial integrity are significant concerns of principle stance. The United States should never underrate China’s resolve to defend its independence, security, and development interests and the Chinese people’s willpower to uphold national dignity and genuine rights and interests. It is hoped that the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction and need to respect and accommodate each other’s fundamental interests and basic concerns in specific. The United States restated its adherence to the one-China policy on the Taiwan issue.
Besides, the two sides had deliberations on cooperation and other issues in specific areas. They touched consensuses, including moving up dialogue and cooperation on climate change by creating a joint working group on climate change. The two sides conferred making mutual arrangements for the COVID-19 vaccination of each side’s diplomats and consular officials, agreed to hold talks on smoothing activities of each other’s diplomatic and consular missions and personnel, as well as on issues linked to media projection, in the spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit. The two sides also agreed to continue and enhance communication and coordination on other topics, including economy and trade, military, law enforcement, culture, health, cybersecurity, climate change, the Iranian nuclear issue, Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula and Myanmar, etc.
It was stressed that China’s attitude toward China-U.S. relations remains clear and consistent. China is committed to achieving non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation with the United States. At the same time, China stands firm in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and developments. It is hoped that the United States will work with Chinain the same direction and respect and accommodate each other’s core interests and major concerns. On this basis, China’s doors are always open for continued dialogue with the U.S. side.
Outcomes:
China availing this opportunity has conveyed a strong and blunt message that China will not accept U.S. supremacy and will not accept dictation. China will not allow any country to interfere in its domestic issues. Generally speaking, the Chinese are well-mannered, polite, submissive, friendly, and never cross diplomatic etiquette. But, it seems that the U.S. has crossed all the limits where China have to take a firm and boldstand and express their point of view so clearly. It is up to the U.S. administration to analyze the Chinese response and do their homework before meeting them again.
The World has conceived well that the U.S.can not sustain its hegemony anymore. It is no longer a unipolar world, and the U.S. is no longer a unique superpower. The U.S. needs to understand the emerging geopolitics and have to accept realities. It might need to share power with other rising nations and respect them. The U.S. must keep in mind the existence of other emerging nations’ potential while making any decision.
It is an established fact that the U.S., after enjoying the global leadership role for seven decades, may not sustain this status anymore. The U.S. is on the decline and, with every passing day, may decline further. Whereas China is a rising power and, with the passage of each day, may grow further. The time is on the Chinese side. If Americans are wise, they might give up confronting China and extend cooperation to be the beneficiary of Chinse rise. There exists enormous goodwill about America among the general public in China.
The American claim of promoting democracy and the law-based rule is no more trusted as the Americans are a supporter of all dictators in the oil-rich Gulf countries in the Middle-East. The U.S. was behind the toppling of the democratically elected legitimate Government of Mr. Adil Morsey in Egypt. Again, it was the U.S. who was among the first nations to support the dictator General Sissi in Egypt. American history is full of supporting dictators around the globe. Regarding law-based rule, it is just a joke. It was the U.S.that destroyed Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, etc.
Under the Trump Administration, America was deteriorated in respect of human rights violations, hate among various ethnicities in America. And official discriminatory laws were introduced against Muslims; immigration laws were biased. The pandemic was mismanaged, the economy was collapsed. President Trump harmed America so severely that it might take several decades to recover such losses. President Trump has offended some of his close allies too.
It is time for Americans to re-assess the changed geopolitics and should focus on domestic issues more before embarking on international matters. Scholars, intellectuals, think tanks, and politicians need to re-evaluate the entire outlook and guide policymakers appropriately. The old cold-war mentality may not work anymore.
