On March 18 and 19, 2021, in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. and Chinese officials held talks described by Washington as "tough and direct."[1] The U.S. delegation was led by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, while the Chinese delegation was led by CPC Political Bureau Central Committee member and Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs director Yang Jiechi and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.[2]
Following the meeting, on March 20, the Chinese Foreign Ministry published a lengthy report on the meeting in which it explained China's position on Washington's concerns over Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. The report stressed that the U.S. should have "a correct view of China's influence on the world," and that China will "resolutely safeguard" its "sovereignty" and "national dignity." It also noted that China's development cannot be achieved without the leadership of the CCP and the "core status" of its leader, which "enjoy the wholehearted support of the 1.4 billion Chinese people."
Pointing out that the Trump administration had maintained "highly erroneous anti-China policies" that "seriously damaged" both China's interests and China-U.S. relations, the report stated that China urges the U.S. to "to eliminate the impact of the previous administration's wrong policy" and "avoid new problems." It added that the U.S. should cease its support of Taiwanese independence and Hong Kong independence forces, stop "obstructing" China's implementation of "one country, two systems," stop "smearing" China's Xinjiang policy, and abide by "its commitment" to recognizing Tibet as part of China.
The report concluded by stating that "both sides are committed to enhancing dialogue and cooperation in the field of climate change" and that with regard to Taiwan the U.S. had "reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy."
Below is the Chinese Foreign Ministry report on the meeting:[3]
(Source: Xinhua)
Dialogue Is Timely And Helpful; 'Irrational Suppression Of China's Legitimate Rights And Interests' Caused China-U.S. Relations To Encounter 'Unprecedented Difficulties'
"On March 18 and 19, 2021 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the [Communist Party of China] CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a China-U.S. high-level strategic dialogue with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Anchorage. The two sides conducted candid, in-depth, long-time and constructive communication on the domestic and foreign policies, China-U.S. relations and major international and regional issues of common concern. Both sides believe the dialogue is timely and helpful and deepens mutual understanding.
"The Chinese side said China came at the invitation of the U.S. side. On the eve of the Chinese New Year, President Xi Jinping held a successful telephone conversation with President Joe Biden and the two sides agreed to enhance communication, manage differences and expand cooperation, which is of great significance in guiding the growth of China-U.S. relations in the time to come.[4] China's attendance to the high-level strategic dialogue at the invitation of the U.S. side in Anchorage is an important step to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state in their phone talks, and the dialogue was decided by the two presidents personally.
"In the past few years, due to the irrational suppression of China's legitimate rights and interests, China-U.S. relations have encountered unprecedented difficulties. This situation has damaged the interests of both nations and taken its toll on world stability and development, and should not be allowed to continue. China is ready to work with the United States to enhance strategic communication, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, properly manage differences and push forward bilateral relations on the track of sound and stable development, so as to create benefits for the people in both countries and promote long-lasting peace and prosperity of the world.
'The System Of Socialism With Chinese Characteristics Is The System That Best Fits China'
"The Chinese delegation emphasized that it is the choice of history and the Chinese people for the CPC to govern, and that China's development cannot be achieved without the leadership of the CPC, which is a high consensus among the Chinese people and a general view of the international community. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the system that best fits China's conditions and the secret to China's development. Practice has proved that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the right path, and China will continue to march forward on that broad road. The governing status of the CPC and the security of China's socialist system should not be damaged, and that is a red line that should never be crossed.
"China's development goal is consistent and clear, which is to realize the two centenary goals and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation through hard work. The fundamental purpose is to ensure a better life for all Chinese people, which is the starting point of all China's policies. China will ground its efforts in the new development stage, apply the new development philosophy, foster a new development paradigm, and achieve high-quality development. No one can deprive the Chinese people of their right to pursue a better life.
"China always attaches importance to the protection and promotion of human rights, and gives priority to improving people's well-being and promoting well-rounded human development. The socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics is all people's democracy and consultative democracy, whose core is the people being masters of the country. China will not impose its democratic system and values on other countries, and meanwhile will resolutely defend its own political system and values and oppose any attempt to use the human rights issue as a cover to attack and smear China or interfere in China's internal affairs. The fundamental goal of China's development is to fulfill people's aspirations for a better life at home and contribute through its own development to the development and progress of all humankind. China has no intention to interfere in the political system of the United States, or to challenge or replace its status and influence.
"The U.S. side should have a correct view of China's political system and development path, of China's major policies and principles, and of China's influence on the world. The leadership role of the CPC and the core status of the CPC's leader result from China's arduous practice and enjoy the wholehearted support of the 1.4 billion Chinese people. This collective will is rock-solid and unshakable.
China Is Ready To Work With The United States To Uphold True Multilateralism
"The Chinese side noted out, China firmly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, adheres to independence, peaceful development, win-win cooperation, multilateralism, equity and justice, and continuously promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
"China will resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and national dignity, firmly oppose other countries' meddling in China's internal affairs, and independently decide its policies and positions in line with the fundamental interests of the Chinese people as well as people around the world, and on the basis of the merits of various issues. China itself is committed to the path of peaceful development, and hopes that other countries will also pursue a path of peaceful development, and that all countries will transcend their differences in social system, civilization and religion, and achieve peaceful coexistence and common prosperity.
"Win-win cooperation is an important principle of China's development and a golden rule in China's external relations. China has made its development achievements in an open environment, and will promote high-quality development in the next phase with greater openness. Multilateralism is an important cornerstone of the current international system. True multilateralism should uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect the basic norms governing international relations, the sovereignty of countries around the world, and the diversity of civilizations, and commit to the democracy in international relations. It should not be used as a cover to form cliques, turn back the wheel of history, incite division along ideological lines, or instigate confrontation between different groups.
"China is ready to work with the United States to uphold true multilateralism in multilateral mechanisms, represented by the United Nations, and provide more public goods with better quality for the international community. China consistently maintains that all countries, big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, are equal members of the international community, and that decisions should not be made by simply showing off strong muscles or waving big fists, nor should the big and the strong be allowed to bully the small and the weak. The voices of developing countries should be heard and their rights and interests protected. As the world's largest developing and developed country, China and the United States should join hands to deepen South-North cooperation, including cooperation in third-party markets for developing countries, and promote the realization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
"China expressed, the essence of China-U.S. relations is mutual benefit rather than a zero-sum game. China and the United States are not doomed to pose a threat to each other, differences are no reason for confrontation between them, and neither side can afford the consequences of conflict and confrontation. China and the United States should trust rather than suspect each other, understand rather than blame each other, work with rather than obstruct each other, and ensure that they focus on dealing with their domestic priorities and achieving their respective development goals.
"The two countries can cooperate on three most pressing tasks facing the international community, namely fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling climate change and promoting world economic recovery. The two sides should also strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, eliminate interruptions to bilateral cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and make the cake of cooperation bigger, so as to deliver more benefits to the people in both countries and beyond. Meanwhile, cooperation should be two-way and mutually beneficial, and should address the concerns of both sides in a balanced way.
"The Chinese side has maintained a high degree of stability and continuity in its policy towards the United States, and China is committed to non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation with the United States, while firmly safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests. The two sides should follow the spirit of the Xi-Biden telephone conversation to keep communication channels open, restore normal dialogue and exchange mechanisms, carry out win-win cooperation, properly manage differences, and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation. The two countries have the responsibility, ability and wisdom to find a way for major countries with different political systems to get along with each other, which will be a historic contribution by China and the United States to human civilization.
The Previous Administration Carried Out 'Highly Erroneous Anti-China Policies;' 'If The U.S. Continues To Go Its Own Way, China Will Make Firm Responses'
"The Chinese side pointed out, in the past few years, the previous U.S. administration went against the trend of the times, and carried out highly erroneous anti-China policies, which seriously damaged both China's interests and China-U.S. relations. China had to take legitimate and necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. China urges the U.S. side to eliminate the impact of the previous administration's wrong policy towards China and avoid new problems.
"The Chinese side pointed out, the Taiwan question bears on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and concerns China's core interests, and there is no room for compromise and concession. China urges the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqués, stop official exchanges and military contacts with and arms sales to Taiwan, and cease helping Taiwan expand its so-called "international space." The U.S. side should handle the Taiwan question in a careful and proper manner, and do not send wrong signals to 'Taiwan independence' forces or try to cross China's bottom line, so as to prevent China-U.S. relations as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait from suffering serious damage.
"The Chinese side pointed out, the electoral system in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is a local electoral system in China and its improvement is the prerogative of the central government of China, and how to design, develop and improve it is China's domestic affair. No foreign government, organization or individual has the right to interfere. Improving HKSAR's electoral system must follow the principle of 'patriots administering Hong Kong.'
"We urge the United States to abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, respect the decision of China's National People's Congress on improving Hong Kong's electoral system, and stop supporting 'Hong Kong independence' forces. We call on the U.S. side to revoke illegal sanctions against Chinese officials and institutions, stop trying to mess up Hong Kong again, and cease obstructing China's implementation of 'one country, two systems.' If the United States continues to go its own way, China will make firm responses.
"The Chinese side pointed out, the claim that there is genocide in China's Xinjiang is the biggest lie of the century. The Chinese side is ready to engage in exchanges with the U.S. side on the basis of mutual respect, and the door of Xinjiang is wide open to the world, but China will not accept any investigation in Xinjiang based on the presumption of guilt by those who are biased, condescending or behaving like a preacher. China hopes that the U.S. side can respect facts, call off attacks against and smearing of China's Xinjiang policy, and abandon double standards on counter terrorism.
"The Chinese side pointed out, the 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long been engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion. China hopes that the U.S. side will abide by its commitment to recognizing Tibet as part of China and refraining from supporting 'Tibet independence,' carefully and properly handle Tibet-related issues, revoke sanctions against relevant Chinese officials, and cease exploiting Tibet-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs.
'The United States Reiterated Its Adherence To The One-China Policy On The Taiwan Question'
"The two sides agreed to follow the spirit of the Xi-Biden telephone conversation on February 11, 2021 to maintain dialogue and communication, conduct mutually beneficial cooperation, avoid misunderstanding and misjudgment, forestall conflict and confrontation, and promote sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations.
"Both sides expressed the hope to continue such type of high-level strategic communication.
"Both sides are committed to enhancing dialogue and cooperation in the field of climate change, and they agreed to establish a joint working group on climate change.
"The United States reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy on the Taiwan question.
"The two sides discussed making reciprocal arrangements for the COVID-19 vaccination of each side's diplomats and consular officials.
"They agreed to hold talks on facilitating activities of each other's diplomatic and consular missions and personnel, as well as on issues related to media reporters, in the spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit.
"The two sides also discussed adjusting relevant travel and visa policies according to the pandemic situation, and gradually normalizing personnel exchanges between China and the United States.
"They also exchanged views on a series of other topics, including economy and trade, military, law enforcement, culture, health, cyber security, climate change, the Iranian nuclear issue, Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula and Myanmar, and agreed to maintain and enhance communication and coordination.
"The two sides will step up coordination and consultation on activities within such multilateral frameworks as the Group of 20 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation."
[1] Reuters.com, March 19, 2021.
[2] See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 9245, At U.S.-China Meeting, Top Chinese Diplomat Yang States: The U.S. Launches Wars, Whereas China Promotes Peace; The U.S. Should Stop Advancing Its Own Democracy In The Rest Of The World And Focus On Its Own Human Rights Record, March 22, 2021.
[3]Fmprc.gov.cn, February 11, 2021. It is worth noting that the ruling party of China calls itself the Communist Party of China (CPC). However, the common use of the term is the "Chinese Communist Party" (CCP).
[4] Whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/02/10/readout-of-president-joseph-r-biden-jr-call-with-president-xi-jinping-of-china, February 10, 2021.
