U.S., China Wrap Up Testy 1st Face-to-Face Talks Under Biden | RealClearPolitics
The meetings in Anchorage were a new test in increasingly troubled relations between the two countries, which are at odds over a range of issues from trade to human rights in Tibet, Hong Kong and China s western Xinjiang region, as well as over Taiwan, China s assertiveness in the South China Sea and the coronavirus pandemic.
We got a defensive response, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after the meetings concluded.
We wanted to share with them the significant concerns that we have about a number of the actions that China has taken, and behaviors exhibiting concerns, shared by our allies and partners, he said. And we did that. We also wanted to lay out very clearly, our own policies, priorities, and worldview. And we did that too.
In separate comments, Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi said dialogue was the only way to resolve differences, But he also made clear that Beijing had no intention of backing down on any issue.