, Columnist
US-China Talks Look More Like a Trap for Biden
Blinken’s meeting with Xi produced nothing of substance, which may be the best result for the White House going ahead.
Big nothing.
Photographer: Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images
This article is for subscribers only.
Dialogue between the world’s two top powers is important. It can also be a trap. With Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Beijing last weekend, the rhythm of Sino-American diplomacy is accelerating. The challenge for President Joe Biden will be to prevent that diplomacy from derailing the policies the US must pursue to maintain a position of strength.
The next few months will pose a critical test for US policy: They will reveal whether Washington will be paralyzed by the tensions that rivalry inevitably brings.