BEIJING — After a marathon night privately hashing out disagreements between the United States and China, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chinese officials focused their public remarks Wednesday on areas in which the two countries can agree.
But the level of division at times was still clear.
“Generally speaking, our relationship has been moving forward, but recently I am more or less worried,” Premier Wen Jiaobao told Clinton in slow, measured tones. The surprisingly frank comments were the sharpest directed at Clinton during her overnight visit. Most other Chinese officials stuck to pleasantries.
“I feel that our two countries should maintain political mutual respect and strategic mutual trust,” said Wen. “The United States should respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
By “sovereignty,” Wen was referring to territorial disputes that have become major flashpoints between China and its neighbors. The United States has been increasingly vocal in supporting a less belligerent, collaborative negotiation process.
In the South China Sea especially, China has been the most aggressive actor, claiming almost the entire disputed area and threatening other claimant countries. China has insisted that disputes be handled in a series of one-on-one negotiations rather than collectively with all the other countries, as Clinton has advocated
Clinton said she and her Chinese counterparts have been trying to “build habits of cooperation” by talking at some level almost on a daily basis.
The formal and highly scripted meetings in Beijing had their fair of surprises. Beside the Wen comments, a scheduled meeting with Xi Jinping –the man expected to replace President Hu Jintao as China’s next top leader -- was abruptly cancelled Wednesday morning. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi did not explain the cancellation, only warning that people not use it as an excuse for “unnecessary speculation.”
Xi also cancelled meetings with the prime minister of Singapore and a Russian parliamentarian, according to U.S. officials. To try to make sure the United States would not interpret the cancellation as a snub, the Chinese set up a last-minute meeting instead with Vice Premier Li Keqiang, who is widely expected to succeed Wen as premier.
Yang also told the Clinton that the Chinese would also deliver a letter to her from Xi later on Wednesday.
Citing an anonymous U.S. official, the Wall Street Journal reported the Xi cancellation was due to a back injury, a claim that American diplomats traveling with Clinton refused to confirm.
At a news conference after meeting with Hu and other top Chinese officials, Clinton made note of the complicated U.S.-China relationship, which perpetually veers between friendship and suspicion, cooperation and competition – sometimes in the same conversation.
The relationship – and the slew of disagreements that have arisen because of it – was the reason that Clinton’s first meeting with Yang extended from the allotted one hour to four hours, ending at 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to U.S. officials. At the news conference between Yang and Clinton, the two continued, deep disagreement between the two countries about the ongoing civil unrest in Syria was also on display.
Clinton said it was “no secret” that the United States was disappointed at how China and Russia have blocked calls by other members of the United Nations Security Council for stronger international intervention in Syria.
Countered Yang: “History will judge that China’s position on the Syria question is a promotion of the appropriate handling of the situation, for what we have in mind is the interests of the people of Syria and the region.”
But the level of division at times was still clear.
“Generally speaking, our relationship has been moving forward, but recently I am more or less worried,” Premier Wen Jiaobao told Clinton in slow, measured tones. The surprisingly frank comments were the sharpest directed at Clinton during her overnight visit. Most other Chinese officials stuck to pleasantries.
“I feel that our two countries should maintain political mutual respect and strategic mutual trust,” said Wen. “The United States should respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
By “sovereignty,” Wen was referring to territorial disputes that have become major flashpoints between China and its neighbors. The United States has been increasingly vocal in supporting a less belligerent, collaborative negotiation process.
In the South China Sea especially, China has been the most aggressive actor, claiming almost the entire disputed area and threatening other claimant countries. China has insisted that disputes be handled in a series of one-on-one negotiations rather than collectively with all the other countries, as Clinton has advocated
Clinton said she and her Chinese counterparts have been trying to “build habits of cooperation” by talking at some level almost on a daily basis.
The formal and highly scripted meetings in Beijing had their fair of surprises. Beside the Wen comments, a scheduled meeting with Xi Jinping –the man expected to replace President Hu Jintao as China’s next top leader -- was abruptly cancelled Wednesday morning. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi did not explain the cancellation, only warning that people not use it as an excuse for “unnecessary speculation.”
Xi also cancelled meetings with the prime minister of Singapore and a Russian parliamentarian, according to U.S. officials. To try to make sure the United States would not interpret the cancellation as a snub, the Chinese set up a last-minute meeting instead with Vice Premier Li Keqiang, who is widely expected to succeed Wen as premier.
Yang also told the Clinton that the Chinese would also deliver a letter to her from Xi later on Wednesday.
Citing an anonymous U.S. official, the Wall Street Journal reported the Xi cancellation was due to a back injury, a claim that American diplomats traveling with Clinton refused to confirm.
At a news conference after meeting with Hu and other top Chinese officials, Clinton made note of the complicated U.S.-China relationship, which perpetually veers between friendship and suspicion, cooperation and competition – sometimes in the same conversation.
The relationship – and the slew of disagreements that have arisen because of it – was the reason that Clinton’s first meeting with Yang extended from the allotted one hour to four hours, ending at 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to U.S. officials. At the news conference between Yang and Clinton, the two continued, deep disagreement between the two countries about the ongoing civil unrest in Syria was also on display.
Clinton said it was “no secret” that the United States was disappointed at how China and Russia have blocked calls by other members of the United Nations Security Council for stronger international intervention in Syria.
Countered Yang: “History will judge that China’s position on the Syria question is a promotion of the appropriate handling of the situation, for what we have in mind is the interests of the people of Syria and the region.”