However, these talks are far from reversing the spiral of hostility and mistrust between the two countries. Back-channel diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges are also desperately needed to rebuild trust, as both countries increasingly view the other as an existential threat.
Wang Yi said so almost personally during his meeting with Blinken in Munich on Friday, stressing the importance of “exchanges at all levels” as well as “carrying out people-to-people and cultural exchanges.”
US National Security Adviser and China’s top diplomat meet in Thailand
US National Security Adviser and China’s top diplomat meet in Thailand
It is no coincidence that Chinese ministers have criticized the United States for failing to properly conduct informal and people-to-people exchanges during their meetings with their American counterparts over the past week.
According to state-run Xinhua news agency, both men raised the issue of alleged unfair treatment of Chinese people, with Wang Xiaohong telling Mayorkas that the United States should “stop harassing and testing Chinese students for no apparent reason.” He is said to have said.
Wang Yi agreed, quoting the following Chinese proverb: “Any act of kindness, no matter how small, is worth doing, but any act of evil, no matter how small, should be avoided.”
In a separate article, Xinhua News Agency explained Beijing’s thinking, arguing that “seemingly trivial actions” on the part of the United States could “chip away at the foundations of bilateral relations.”
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Xi told Blinken at a key meeting that China would not challenge the United States or replace the United States.
Xi told Blinken at a key meeting that China would not challenge the United States or replace the United States.
A recent study by the RAND Corporation also emphasized the importance of informal diplomacy in stabilizing U.S.-China relations, much of which involves current and former government officials, businessmen, think tanks, and others. ing.
“Track 2 Dialogue” [involving non-governmental figures] In U.S.-China relations, it bridges the gap between formal diplomatic discussions and helps maintain communication between the two countries even during times of government tension,” the study said.
The RAND report listed 30 ongoing bilateral dialogues, primarily focused on security and economic issues, but said there were important dialogues missing so far.
“These dialogues, while helpful, are a necessary but not sufficient step towards achieving a more fundamental long-term balance in the relationship.” Existing dialogues “tend to be long on provocative rhetoric and short on practical ideas to streamline mutual interests.”
The report warns that the two countries have few common interests apart from issues such as North Korea and preventing an arms race, and the lack of agreement on what future cooperation will look like is concerning. He added that it should be done.
The report further suggested that a Track 2 dialogue should be initiated, with a particular focus on situations in which both countries can realize essential benefits while coexisting.
Chinese police chief calls for global cooperation on security at forum
Chinese police chief calls for global cooperation on security at forum
“Despite the high level of mistrust across the relationship, such efforts can address current distrust by hypothesizing medium-term future scenarios while leveraging mutual interest in de-escalation mechanisms. “This could be very timely as it would be carried out in a cross-departmental manner,” the report said.
While informal diplomacy may not have an immediate impact on government policy, the two countries need a “non-zero-sum vision of a shared future in which both great powers can coexist in a sustainable way” over the next five years. I concluded that there is. Up to 30 years.