Blinken’s Upcoming China visit highlights US’ needs for cooperation
Blinken’s Upcoming China visit highlights US’ needs for cooperation
Before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s upcoming visit to China, US officials adopted their usual tactic of using harsh language to apply pressure on China, expressing so-called strong concerns about China’s support for Russia and the Taiwan question. Chinese observers stated that the recent frequent visits of Blinken and a string of US officials to China recently indicate that Washington is unable to solve domestic and global issues without cooperation from China. Therefore, when seeking help from Beijing, the US would be wise to communicate with China respectfully and as equals, rather than condescendingly.
Blinken will meet with senior Chinese officials in both Shanghai and Beijing during his April 24-26 visit.
The US State Department said Saturday that Blinken would “discuss a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues,” including the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits.
He will also talk about progress made in “resuming counternarcotics cooperation, military-to-military communication, artificial intelligence, and strengthening people-to-people ties” and will reaffirm how important it is for the US and China to be “responsibly managing competition, even in areas where our two countries disagree,” said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian welcomed Blinken’s upcoming visit at Thursday’s media briefing, but provided no further details.
China raises flood emergency response in Guangdong as heavy rainfall continues
China’s State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has raised the flood emergency response warning for South China’s Guangdong Province from level-IV to level-III with heavy rainfalls are forecasted to continue in the region, leading to rising water levels in several rivers including the Beijiang River in the Pearl River basin.
Since April 16, heavy rainfalls have been occurring throughout the Pearl River basin, causing 44 rivers to reach flood levels exceeding official warnings. The exceedance ranges from 0.01 to 7.04 meters, the Pearl River Water Resources Commission under the Ministry of Water Resources said on Sunday.
At 8:45 pm on Saturday, the water flow of Beijiang River at the Shijiao hydrological station rose to 12,000 cubic meters per second, experiencing its second flood event of the year, according to the water resources ministry.
The Beijiang River basin is expected to experience a once-in-a-century flood.
China, PNG to speed up cooperation
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrapped up his visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG) with a meeting with Prime Minister James Marape, confirming mutual interests of speeding up cooperation in broad fields, which analysts said will inject more vitality into the South Pacific region.
“The mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries has been expanding and deepening, providing a steady stream of impetus for their respective development and revitalization… and in the process of PNG’s development, China will be your most reliable partner,” Wang told Marape on Sunday.
Chinese observers noted that the productive discussions between the two sides highlight the warmer ties between the island country and China. They cautioned against the US’s attempts to stir discord between China and PNG, emphasizing that the tangible benefits derived from partnering with China in the region cannot be overlooked by local government and the people.