US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks throughout a press convention on the Beijing American Center of the US Embassy in Beijing on June 19.

PEDRO PARDO/AFP through Getty Images

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PEDRO PARDO/AFP through Getty Images

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks throughout a press convention on the Beijing American Center of the US Embassy in Beijing on June 19.

PEDRO PARDO/AFP through Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described two days of diplomatic talks in China as “candid, substantive, and constructive,” whereas acknowledging the 2 superpowers had “profound differences.”

Blinken advised NPR Morning Edition host Leila Fadel that it was clear the U.S. relationship with China was “unstable” coming into the talks. His feedback got here on the conclusion of the primary journey by an American secretary of state to China since 2018.

“Direct engagement, sustained communication at senior levels, is the best way to responsibly manage our relationship,” Blinken added.

Chinese officers have expressed curiosity in talking with high-level officers, together with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. The United States’ high diplomat stated extra talks are anticipated, however he declined to determine which officers might journey to the nation to debate financial issues within the weeks forward.

“I’ll leave that to the near future,” he stated.

No resumption of military-to-military cooperation

Blinken stated that up to now, Beijing has not agreed to renew military-to-military cooperation with the United States, although he stated he raised the difficulty repeatedly throughout conferences with Chinese officers.

“These military-to-military contacts are hugely important if we’re going to avoid an unintentional conflict, and that was only reinforced over the last couple of weeks,” Blinken stated. “We’ve seen … incidents on the seas, in the skies that were really dangerous and, in our judgment, unprofessional.” He stated the difficulty stays an “ongoing priority.”

The secretary pressured the significance of cooperatively managing the “challenge” of Taiwan, as the 2 have performed “for nearly five decades,” particularly given Taiwan’s essential position in world commerce.

“If there were to be a crisis over Taiwan, you’ve got about 50% of the global commercial container traffic that goes through the Taiwan Strait every day. Fifty percent. Half of the world’s trade, in effect, goes through there every day,” Blinken stated.

He added: “You’ve got about 70% of high-end semiconductors that are produced on Taiwan. If either of those things were taken offline as a result of a crisis, it could have devastating consequences for the global economy, which is why countries around the world are looking with increasing concern at actions that are being taken that could disrupt the status quo.”

A China Central Television information broadcast reveals footage of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) assembly with China’s President Xi Jinping, on a large display screen exterior a shopping center in Beijing on June 19, 2023.

GREG BAKER/AFP through Getty Images

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GREG BAKER/AFP through Getty Images

A China Central Television information broadcast reveals footage of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) assembly with China’s President Xi Jinping, on a large display screen exterior a shopping center in Beijing on June 19, 2023.

GREG BAKER/AFP through Getty Images

Managing overseas and home pursuits

Blinken stated U.S. officers “have a responsibility to defend, protect and advance the interests of the United States and its people, and that is what motivates us in our relationship with China — and for that matter, with any other country.”

But “it would be irresponsible” to not interact with China, in addition to “counterproductive to our interests,” he added.

Consistent communication is “the best way to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to conflict,” and it is “probably the only way” to get detained Americans again from China, to “produce cooperation on fentanyl,” and to “defend the interests of our workers and our companies who are operating in China.”

When requested whether or not China is changing the United States as a world battle mediator, significantly within the Middle East, Blinken stated that the U.S. “remains far and away the preferred partner” for gulf nations.

“At the same time,” he added, “if China takes initiatives that actually help solve problems… that’s a good thing, and we support it.”

Blinken stated a few of China’s priorities in Ukraine are “very consistent with our own.” The U.S. would welcome the nation taking a mediator position between Ukraine and Russia so long as their efforts helped set up a “just and durable peace in Ukraine,” he added.