The US-China military-to-military contact has become a prime example of the Chinese saying, “whoever starts the trouble should end it.” In a recent interview with CNN, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked whether the US should lift sanctions on the Chinese defense minister to ease tensions. Blinken replied that the sanctions do not hinder the Chinese defense minister from engaging with the US, leaving it as a political decision for China to decide on engagement.
The US seems to be deflecting responsibility by refusing to state whether sanctions will be lifted and instead shifting the blame for the lack of military dialogue onto China. While the US has been complaining about the absence of meetings between the defense chiefs of both countries, the reason is apparent: the US has yet to lift its illegal sanctions on the Chinese defense minister, creating a hostile atmosphere for military talks.
If the US genuinely desires to restore normal military contacts and engage with China, it should refrain from its current approach. Demanding the resumption of high-level military exchanges while still holding onto sanctions undermines sincerity and appears as bullying tactics.
Engaging in fair and equal dialogue becomes challenging when one country imposes baseless and unjustified sanctions on the other. Blinken’s remarks about the “responsibly-managed US-China relationship” are deemed arrogant and irrational, as it is the US that bears the primary responsibility for strained relations and interrupted military contacts. The US’s approach of pressuring China while ignoring its own actions has proven to be ineffective.
Throughout the years of strained relations, the US has been the provocative party, imposing sanctions and escalating tensions, while China has responded with counter-measures or firm positions. If the US genuinely seeks to restore normal military exchanges, it should stop blaming China and reflect on whether it has shown sufficient respect towards China.
Meaningful dialogue requires adherence to principles and communication with mutual respect. The challenges in current military exchanges lie mainly with the US side, which emphasizes the need for communication while simultaneously disregarding China’s concerns and creating obstacles. This attitude hampers mutual trust between the two militaries. To foster proper communication and exchanges, the US should demonstrate sincerity and rectify its mistakes through concrete actions to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue.