An article in Nikkei Asia (March 12) stated that U.S. and China are engaged in psychological warfare over how to define the upcoming meeting between the US and Chinese officials in Anchorage, Alaska on March 18. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said "China, invited by the United States, will have a high-level strategic dialogue with the U.S. side in the coming days." He was referring to the March 18-19 meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, between Politburo member Yang Jiechi and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. His use of the term "strategic dialogue" directly contradicted Blinken's statement to the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing(March 10) that "This is not a strategic dialogue." "There's no intent at this point for a series of follow-on engagements." At the hearing Blinken also replied to Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pennsylvania)'s question as to whether he was prepared for or contemplating concessions to Beijing for cooperation on such issues as the Paris climate accord. Blinken replied: "No, No concessions whatsoever to the Communist Chinese Party?" When Perry pressed, Blinken said "No" once more, adding for China "or any other country, our job is to make sure that we're advancing the interests of the United States and advancing the values of the United States." "China, uniquely, has an ability militarily, diplomatically, economically, to undermine the international rules-based system that the United States has devoted so much effort to building and that does advance the interests and values of our people." Zhao Lijian meanwhile said "We ask the United States to view China and China-U.S. relations in an objective and rational manner, reject the Cold-War and zero-sum game mentality, respect China's sovereignty, security and development interests, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs. It should follow the spirit of the phone call between the Chinese and U.S. presidents, focus on cooperation, manage differences, and bring the China-U.S. relationship back to the right track of sound and steady development."
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