China still poses a risk of ‘accidental conflict’ despite Blinken’s plea.

China Refuses to Establish Crisis Communications Channel with U.S. Military Officials

China has rejected the establishment of a crisis communications channel with U.S. military officials, despite warnings from Washington about the increased risk of “an unintentional conflict” between the two powers.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of military-to-military communications during his trip to Beijing, stating, “It’s absolutely vital that we have these kinds of communications.” However, China has not agreed to move forward with this proposal.

China-U.S. Relationship at Its Lowest Point

Despite Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang acknowledging that the China-U.S. relationship is at its lowest point, Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping described Blinken’s visit as a “very good” encounter. However, tensions remain high as Blinken defended U.S. restrictions on China’s access to sensitive American technology, and China warned of a possible Taiwan crisis if the United States does not comply with its demands.

“A choice needs to be made between dialogue and confrontation, and cooperation and conflict,” said Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party’s top foreign policy official. “On the Taiwan question, China has no room for compromise or concession.”

Blinken, on the other hand, dismissed Chinese complaints about U.S. sanctions on technology exports to China, emphasizing the need to protect American interests. He stated, “It’s not in our interest to provide technology to China that could be used against us.”

Long-Awaited Trip and Future Meetings

Blinken’s trip to Beijing was long-awaited, as his initial plans in February were canceled due to security concerns. He expressed his expectation for more high-level meetings in the coming year, including President Joe Biden hosting Xi and other world leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November.

Regarding the lack of contact between U.S. and Chinese defense officials, Blinken highlighted the importance of military-to-military contacts in avoiding unintentional conflicts. He cited recent incidents in the seas and skies as dangerous and unprofessional.

Chinese State Media’s Perspective

While Xi praised the significance of the trip, Chinese state media portrayed the discussions as a display of Beijing’s strength, particularly in relation to Taiwan’s upcoming election season. Chinese analysts warned of countermeasures if the U.S. continues selling weapons to Taiwan or increasing high-level interactions with Taiwanese authorities.

As Blinken concluded his meetings in Beijing, it was reported that Taiwanese analysts would participate in a tabletop military exercise hosted by a Japanese think tank. This marks the first time experts from Taiwan will collaborate with their U.S. and Japanese counterparts on military simulations.

Concerns Over Provocative Actions

Blinken reiterated the U.S.’s concerns about China’s provocative actions in recent years, particularly in relation to Taiwan. He highlighted the significant impact a crisis in the Taiwan Strait could have on global trade and emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution of cross-strait differences.

“Fifty percent of commercial container traffic goes through the Taiwan Strait every day. Seventy percent of semiconductors are manufactured on Taiwan,” Blinken explained. “If a crisis were to occur, it would have dramatic consequences for virtually every country around the world.”