USA: No escalation with China - better relationship management should prevent open conflict

After the meeting with Chinese counterparts, the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman wants to prevent open conflicts.

She speaks of responsible management.

Washington / Munich - The USA wants to avoid another escalation with China after Deputy Foreign Minister Wendy Sherman's trip to Tianjin. Sherman spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi about how to find ways to "set the framework for responsible management of the relationship between our two countries," the US State Department said after the talks. The meetings in Tianjin had shown "how important it is to maintain open lines of communication between our two countries".

Sherman said the United States welcomed strong competition with China and agreed that it was important for the country to grow economically and improve the lives of its people, according to the Associated Press news agency.

A statement that is apparently necessary, because China accuses the US, also because of the aggressive policies of former President Donald Trump, of wanting to "contain" the country in the manner of the Cold War.

Sherman added, however, that China's development must be done in a manner that conforms to international rules and does not detract from any other country.

China and USA: Open discussions on difficult topics

China and the US could work together on climate protection, the fight against illegal drugs and the non-proliferation of weapons, as well as regional issues relating to North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan and Myanmar, Sherman said. According to Wendy Sherman, during the talks there was also an open exchange on the long list of controversial topics from Xinjiang to Hong Kong on the most recent cyber attacks on Microsoft. It will be seen whether it can be built on "and we are able to take another step," she said, according to the AP. “In the initial phase of building this relationship, you have no way of knowing whether we will achieve all that we hoped for.” The vice minister has experience with difficult geopolitical issues: she was involved in the governments of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama North Korea and Iran deals.

China and USA: Greater understanding of the opposing side's positions should avoid open conflicts

“The relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China.

is complex, and so our policies are very complex, ”Sherman said in a telephone interview with the

"We believe that our relationship can tolerate this nuance." Certainly optimistic tones that were recently barely audible on both sides. Right before the meeting, China had covered the United States with allegations. Among other things, Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng spoke of a "demonization" of his country by Washington. Xie presented Sherman in Tianjin with lists of conditions to repair relations and China's concerns - about growing anti-Asian racism in the United States, for example. The tough China course of the Biden government has so far led to growing anger in the People's Republic rather than giving in to controversial issues such as human rights or trade issues.

Sherman's visit is apparently intended to prevent the deepening differences between the two countries from leading to dangerous confrontations, the

quoted

 the former China director of the US Department of Defense, Drew Thompson. Washington's main focus has changed and is now focused on deepening understanding of China's positions, said Thompson, who is now a researcher at Singapore University's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. The aim is to “reduce the potential for misjudgments” that could subsequently lead to open conflicts.