Beijing: In the highest-level visit by a US official to China in almost five years, Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing on Sunday as the rival powers sought to defuse rising tensions.
The world's two largest economies are at odds on a variety of issues, from trade to technology to regional security, so neither side anticipates any major developments during Blinken's two-day visit.
However, the two nations have expressed a growing desire for more stability and recognise a brief window before elections next year in both the US and Taiwan, the self-governing democracy that Beijing has not ruled out annexing by force.
However, Blinken abruptly postponed the trip after the US claimed to have found a Chinese spy balloon over US territory, prompting irate demands for action from hard-liners in Washington.
Before leaving, Blinken gave a speech in the US capital in which he pledged to "responsibly manage our relationship" by looking for ways to prevent "miscalculations" between the two nations.
In order to prevent competition from devolving into conflict or confrontation, he said, "intense competition requires sustained diplomacy."
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Blinken was speaking alongside Vivian Balakrishnan, the foreign minister of Singapore, who stated that the region wanted the United States to both remain a powerful nation and find ways to live alongside a developing China.
According to Balakrishnan, Blinken's trip "is necessary, but not sufficient." Fundamental differences exist in outlook and values. Additionally, developing mutual respect and strategic trust takes time.
During his 20-hour trans-Pacific journey, Blinken spoke on the phone with his counterparts from South Korea and Japan as part of the Biden administration's emphasis on maintaining close ties with allies.
Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, travelled independently to Tokyo for separate meetings with South Korea, the Philippines, and Japan.
The United States has recently reached agreements regarding troop deployments in the northern and southern Philippines, both of which are strategically close to Taiwan.
Following Nancy Pelosi's visit, Beijing conducted extensive military exercises around Taiwan in August that were seen as a drill for an invasion.
The Biden administration has continued Trump's tough stance in practise, if not in tone, and has gone further in some areas, such as working to forbid the export of expensive semiconductors with military applications to China.
However, the Biden administration has stated it is willing to work with China on specific areas of cooperation like climate change — unlike Trump, who is running for president once more as Beijing swelters in record-breaking mid-June temperatures.
As the top diplomat for East Asia during Barack Obama's second term, Danny Russel noted that each side had priorities, with China hoping to avoid further US technology restrictions or support for Taiwan and the US hoping to avoid an incident that could escalate into a military conflict.
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"Blinken's brief visit won't necessarily resolve the minor issues in the US-China relationship, let alone any of the major ones. It also won't stop either side from pursuing their opposing agendas, according to Russel, who is currently a vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute.
However, "his visit may well restart much-needed face-to-face communication and send a signal that both countries are shifting from vehement press conference rhetoric to sober discussions behind closed doors.