Even before America’s top diplomat Anthony Blinken postponed his visit to Beijing, the US-China relationship was at an all-time low.
“Blinken’s China Trip Cancelled Due to Spy Balloon Incident”
The US-China relationship reached a new low as a Chinese spy balloon incident in Montana disrupted the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s scheduled visit. Although the Chinese foreign ministry claimed the airship was used for weather research and had gone off course, the apology did not prevent the US State Department from cancelling the trip.
The visit, which would have marked the first of its kind in five years, was seen as a huge missed opportunity for establishing communication and working norms between the two nations. Blinken had previously stated his goal of avoiding competition and conflict with China through open lines of communication.
The US-China relationship has been strained by recent events such as the trade war under the Trump administration, tensions over Taiwan, and China’s assertiveness under President Xi Jinping. However, both President Biden and Xi expressed a desire to avoid conflict during their meeting at the G20 summit in November.
The shift in tone, although not in substance, was quickly disrupted by the spy balloon incident. The US has continued to impose economic restrictions and expand its military presence in the region, angering Beijing and leading to calls for action against China’s disregard for US sover
