SHANGHAI (AP) \u2014 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised what the U.S. describes as unfair Chinese trade practices during his first full day of meetings in China on Thursday with local government officials in the financial hub of Shanghai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blinken met with the city\u2019s top official, Communist Party Secretary Chen Jining, and \u201craised concerns about (Chinese) trade policies and non-market economic practices,\u201d the State Department said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It said he stressed that the United States seeks healthy economic competition with China and \u201ca level playing field for U.S. workers and firms operating in China.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe two sides reaffirmed the importance of ties between the people of the United States and (China), including the expansion of exchanges between students, scholars, and business,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China\u2019s multibillion-dollar trade surplus with the U.S. along with accusations of intellectual property theft and other practices seen as discriminating against U.S. businesses in China have long been a source of friction in relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China, for its part, has objected strongly to U.S. accusations of human rights abuses and Washington\u2019s support for Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing considers its own territory and warns could be annexed by force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked about Blinken\u2019s comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China has \u201calways conducted economic and trade cooperation in accordance with market principles, firmly supported the multilateral trading system, and fully complied with the rules of the World Trade Organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe hope the U.S. will also earnestly respect the principle of fair competition, abide by the WTO rules, and work with China to create favorable conditions for the sound and stable development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations,\u201d Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blinken also spoke with students and business leaders before flying to Beijing for what are expected to be contentious talks with national officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi and possibly President Xi Jinping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blinken arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday shortly before U.S. President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger Beijing, including $8 billion to counter China\u2019s growing aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea. It also seeks to force TikTok\u2019s China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China has railed against U.S. assistance to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikTok\u2019s sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, the fact that Blinken made the trip \u2014 shortly after a conversation between Biden and Xi, a visit to China by\u00a0Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen\u00a0and a call between the U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs \u2014 is a sign the two sides are at least willing to discuss their differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s important to underscore the value \u2014 in fact, the necessity \u2014 of direct engagement, of speaking to each other, laying out our differences, which are real, seeking to work through them,\u201d Blinken told Chen, according to the State Department statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have an obligation for our people, indeed an obligation to the world, to manage the relationship between our two countries responsibly,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is the obligation we have, and one that we take very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chen agreed with that sentiment and said the recent Biden-Xi call had helped the \u201cstable and healthy development of our two countries\u2019 relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhether we choose cooperation or confrontation affects the well-being of both peoples, both countries, and the future of humanity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chen added that he hoped Blinken was able to get a \u201cdeep impression and understanding\u201d of Shanghai, a city of skyscrapers, ports and more than 25 million people that is a magnet for commercially ambitious young people from China and abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most recently, the U.S. has raised concerns that potential overcapacity in Chinese industries \u2014 such as electric vehicles, steel and solar panels \u2014 might crowd out U.S. and other foreign manufacturers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shortly after arriving, Blinken attended a Chinese basketball playoff game between the local Shanghai Sharks and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, with the home team losing in the last seconds in a 121-120 nailbiter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the U.S. presidential race heating up, it\u2019s unclear what ramifications a victory for either\u00a0Biden or former President Donald Trump\u00a0might have for relations. But Trump could\u00a0deepen a trade war\u00a0he started during his first term. His tough rhetoric on China and isolationist approach to foreign policy could ramp up uncertainties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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