John Kerry visits China amid high tensions between Washington, Beijing

US Special Climate Envoy John Kerry has arrived in Beijing, as Washington continues to push for reopening closed channels of communication between the two powers.

Kerry, who arrived in Beijing on Sunday, is the third senior White House official to head to Beijing in past weeks to hold “in-depth” talks with Chinese officials.

The US State Department said the two sides would address the climate crisis, including “increasing implementation and ambition and promoting a successful COP28”, referring to the next United Nations climate change conference, to be held in Dubai in December.

Kerry's visit follows earlier trips to China by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

China has repeatedly called on US officials to take concrete measures if they want to restore broken communication lines and improve bilateral ties. In particular, Beijing wants Washington to lift the sanctions imposed on China.

The US claims Washington's anti-Beijing measures aim to protect US interests. 

During her visit to China, Yellen confirmed that the two sides will continue to have disagreements in this regard. 

“The United States will, in certain circumstances, need to pursue targeted actions to protect its national security,” Yellen said. “And we may disagree in these instances.”

Observers assessed both visits by Blinken and Yellen as failures. 

Before the visit, Kerry had suggested that climate change should be viewed as a “critical stand-alone issue”, separate from other disagreements between Beijing and Washington.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sees global warming and climate change as a top priority, emphasizing the need for scientific cooperation and open sharing in this regard.

However, tensions rose earlier this year when a Chinese climate balloon crossing over the United States was shot down by a US fighter jet.

After the downing of the balloon, Chinese top military officials refused to hold talks with their American counterparts.

US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner complained in May that Pentagon’s numerous attempts to reach out to China’s military had been either rejected or ignored.

In the meantime, Washington fears the broadening of relations and expansion of military ties between Russia and China.

Blinken warned China in February about the consequences of Beijing providing weapons and munitions to Moscow.

ME