Biden summit in Alaska: China’s ambassador to the US says he does not have ‘high expectations’

Biden summit in Alaska: China’s ambassador to the US says he does not have ‘high expectations’

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Leading Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi and Councilor of State Wang Yi will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday and Friday in Anchorage, Alaska.

There is no public agenda for the event, but a US State Department spokesman said “a number of issues” will be discussed. “We are certainly not going to go out of our way to discuss our areas of disagreement,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said on March 11.

The summit follows a prolonged deterioration in relations between Beijing and Washington under former U.S. President Donald Trump, including the imposition of trade sanctions, mutual visa restrictions and technology bans.

Speaking on Wednesday in Alaska, Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to the United States, said the Chinese government “did not expect to resolve all problems in a single dialogue”.

“We don’t have high expectations or fantasies,” said Cui. “I think that both teams attach great importance to that. We have done a lot in preparation in the last few days.”

Cui Tiankai, China's ambassador to the United States, speaks during an interview in New York on Friday, May 24, 2019.
Although the Chinese government has said it expects the two countries to be able to “meet halfway,” the White House has signaled that it will likely continue the harsh stance stipulated by the previous government.

Speaking in Japan on Wednesday, Blinken accused China of using “coercion and aggression” to undermine human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and to enforce its claims about Taiwan and the South China Sea.

On the same day, the United States announced the decision to sanction 24 Hong Kong and Chinese officials in response to new restrictions on democracy in Hong Kong, which will further restrict the right of people in the city to stand as a candidate.

China’s Foreign Ministry said the country had taken countermeasures against the United States’ decision. When asked whether Beijing would take further action, Cui replied, “As the situation evolves, we will continue to do so, if necessary.”

Cui said in talks with US representatives, China will not compromise on key issues related to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Trial dates set for two Canadians detained in China on espionage charges

“The prerequisite for dialogue and communication between any countries is that both sides have a spirit of equality and mutual respect,” he said.

“I hope that both parties will come with sincerity and leave with a better understanding of each other.”

Thursday’s meeting between the two parties is expected to take place at the same time as the trial of Canadian businessman Michael Spavor, who has been detained in China since December 2018.

Both Spavor and former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig were accused by Beijing of spying, although their charges were denounced by Ottawa as politically motivated.

Blinken had previously spoken in support of the two Canadians, calling for them to be released “immediately and unconditionally”.

CNN’s Beijing office contributed to this article.

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