Background
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are set to meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Laos on July 28, 2023. This meeting comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries over a range of issues, including trade, human rights, and Taiwan.
The meeting will be the first face-to-face interaction between the two top diplomats since October 2022. It comes as the US and China seek to stabilize their relationship, which has been strained by a number of recent incidents, including the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon over US airspace and the US’s continued support for Taiwan.
Agenda
The agenda for the meeting is expected to include a wide range of issues, including:
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Trade and economic relations
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Climate change
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North Korea
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Taiwan
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Human rights
It is unclear what specific outcomes can be expected from the meeting. However, both sides are likely to be looking to lay the groundwork for future cooperation on a range of issues.
Challenges
There are a number of challenges that could prevent the meeting from being successful. These include:
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The ongoing trade war between the US and China
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The US’s concerns about China’s human rights record
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The US’s support for Taiwan
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China’s growing military presence in the South China Sea
Despite these challenges, both sides have expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue and find ways to cooperate on areas of mutual interest.
Conclusion
The meeting between Wang Yi and Antony Blinken is a significant opportunity for the US and China to improve their relationship. However, there are a number of challenges that could prevent the meeting from being successful. Both sides will need to be willing to compromise and find ways to cooperate on areas of mutual interest if they want to achieve a positive outcome.
Kind regards E. Thompson.
