Strained relations with China continue

On February 18, 2023, the State Department released an announcement that highlighted the topics of conversation between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s Director of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

The meeting came at an interesting time, given the recent surveillance balloon fiasco and a recent ballistic missile launch by North Korea — both topics that were central to the meeting.

First Blinken denounced the Surveillance balloon incident as a violation of American sovereignty, and made clear that the US will not tolerate such antics.

While the US did shoot down the original balloon — which was only exposed because of a Montana photographer — along with a few other UFO’s, the American public do not know anything more about such developments. So tough talk in the open is appreciated, but clarity on what is really happening is the new demand from the American people.

It should be noted that the State Department is now addressing the balloon as a part of China’s “high altitude surveillance balloon program”; a program that has seen the “intrusion into 40 countries across 5 continents.”

Second, Blinken reassured China that any support given to Russia for their war in Ukraine would be met with “consequences,” likely in the form of sanctions.

China has been providing Russia with material support in order to gain lost ground in the realm of logistics. It should also be noted that recently, the presence of Chinese consumer drones in Ukraine have aided Russia in targeting Ukrainian troops with things like artillery or mortars. So whether they admit it or not, we know the CCP is aiding Russia’s efforts.

Third, Blinken condemned North Korea’s latest ICBM test, and demanded China to act as a “responsible power” in the region and exert their influence into stopping these tests. It is no secret that North Korea is a puppet to the CCP. North Korea had a record-breaking year in 2022 in terms of missiles launched and tested, and China’s geopolitical ambitions and Japan’s commitment to double it’s defense spending, it doesn’t seem like the DPRK is going to slow down any time soon.

Lastly, Blinken voiced President Biden’s sentiments as it pertains to a new Cold War with China. Specifically, Blinken reaffirmed that the US does not want to engage in hostile competition with China, but that we will continue to defend our way of life, our values, and our interests — even as it pertains to Taiwan.

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