Blinken raises China’s Covid-19 ‘transparency’ with foreign minister Wang

China is grappling with mounting Covid-19 cases after moving quickly to dismantle its zero-tolerance policy. PHOTO: AFP

WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Chinese counterpart that it was important for Beijing to be transparent about a growing Covid-19 outbreak, as questions mount about whether Chinese officials are trying to downplay the number of deaths.

In a call with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Mr Blinken “discussed the current Covid-19 situation, and the secretary underscored the importance of transparency for the international community”, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Thursday night in Washington.

A statement from China’s foreign ministry on the call did not mention Covid-19, saying the two sides discussed issues related to Ukraine and Taiwan.

China is grappling with mounting Covid-19 cases after moving quickly to dismantle its zero-tolerance policy. That followed a rare burst of unrest from citizens objecting to the pandemic restrictions as well as indicators showing a worsening economic outlook.

The US State Department expressed worries earlier this week that a runaway outbreak in China could have global implications by spawning new virus variants.

China has only declared a handful of deaths since it started lifting some of the world’s strictest pandemic-era restrictions, which have included city-wide lockdowns and mandatory quarantining and isolation.

The country may actually be seeing upwards of 5,000 deaths per day, according to London-based research firm Airfinity.

Overall, US-China relations remain tense even after President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden agreed to restart dialogue in a number of areas during a November meeting at the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Since then, the Biden administration has continued to hit China with export restrictions on advanced semiconductors and chip-making equipment.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Blinken said in a briefing that the US was prepared to help China with vaccines to help address its burgeoning outbreak, but noted that the government in Beijing so far has not asked for assistance.

“We want to see China get this outbreak under control,” he said.

A spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday that China’s domestic production of medical supplies is expanding and is generally sufficient.

The epidemic prevention and control situation in China is generally predictable and controllable, said Ms Mao Ning at a regular press briefing, remarking on a question about Mr Blinken saying China has not asked the US for vaccines..

“Currently, China’s vaccination rate is rising, as is the ability of the vaccine to treat people,” said Ms Mao.

Mr Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said the country’s vaccine stock “can generally meet demand” and boosters were being rolled out. He added that officials dealing with Covid-19 in China would remain in communication with US counterparts. 

“China is ready to continue working with the international community to meet the Covid challenge, better protect people’s lives and health, revitalise world economic growth, and build a global community of health for all,” Mr Liu said.

Mr Blinken, who met Mr Xi alongside Mr Biden in November, is scheduled to visit Beijing early in 2023 to follow up on the summit as part of the highest-level US trip there since former secretary of state Mike Pompeo went in 2018.

‘Stop the bullying’

Mr Blinken and Mr Wang also discussed other issues during their phone call, including Taiwan, a hot-button topic between Washington and Beijing.

The US must stop suppressing China’s development and should not continue the “old routine of unilateral bullying”, Mr Wang said.

He said the US must pay attention to China’s legitimate concerns, stop curbing and suppressing its development, and not constantly challenge China’s red line in a “salami-slicing” way. Mr Wang was referring to the tactic of using a series of small actions to achieve a much larger result that would be difficult to achieve with a single large action.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. Taiwan, however, rejects China’s sovereignty claims.

Mr Biden had raised objections to China’s “coercive and increasingly aggressive actions towards Taiwan”, which he said undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the broader region, and jeopardised global prosperity.

Mr Xi called it the “first red line” that must not be crossed in China-US relations.

In the phone call with Mr Blinken, Mr Wang stressed that the two sides should focus on translating the Bali consensus of the two heads of state into practical policies and concrete actions, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry on Friday.

“It is necessary to step up consultations on the guiding principles of China-US relations, promote dialogue at all levels, and resolve specific issues between the two countries through joint working groups,” Mr Wang said. BLOOMBERG, REUTERS

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