- Beijing Cyclones embrace American football, promoting cultural exchange
- US-China relations strained despite diplomatic efforts, discussions ongoing
- Tensions escalate over Taiwan, economic issues, despite diplomatic engagement
Mu Yang, the quarterback, exclaims, “Three, two, one – hut!” as he tosses the ball across the field.
Henry Mu, a teammate of his for the Beijing Cyclones, dashes to the corner in an attempt to capture the ball, his studs colliding with the AstroTurf as he leaps.
Henry exclaims, “I was astounded to discover American football here.” He is momentarily taken a deep breath. “It’s very tough, physically and mentally, you must defeat your fear.”
A collaborative team sport where men and women participate is more reminiscent of Baltimore than Beijing.
A significant number of Americans view this as an expression of their national identity, rather than merely a pastime. It is a novel experience for this Chinese team, given that the country boasts a mere ten thousand participants but millions of devoted supporters.
This is precisely the type of cultural connection and “people-to-people” exchange that Beijing desires with the United States as the two rival superpowers attempt to restore stability to their tumultuous relationship.
Since November of last year, when President Xi Jinping visited San Francisco, China has been eager to highlight its similarities with the United States rather than its differences.
Additionally, in recent months, Beijing has seemingly shifted towards a more moderate diplomatic stance to entice foreign enterprises and stimulate its decelerating economy.
The United States has increased the frequency with which it dispatches envoys to China and has signaled cooperation. In Shanghai, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on his second visit to China in less than a year. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has also recently completed two visits to the country.
To prevent “miscalculation or conflict,” the United States employs a strategy it refers to as “responsibly managing competition,” according to a senior State Department official who spoke before Mr. Blinken’s visit.
Despite this, the conversations will not be effortless. The relationship between the United States and China has undoubtedly improved in recent years, but it remains fraught with suspicion and tension.
A route-map reminder of flashpoints, Mr. Blinken’s plane transporting officials and reporters, departed Anchorage on Wednesday, winding its way over the Pacific Ocean well south of Russian territory before settling on the Chinese coastline north of Taiwan and the South China Sea.
The presence of an alleged Chinese surveillance balloon in the same airspace above the frozen lakes of Alaska at the beginning of the previous year precipitated a severe international crisis and a nadir in relations between the United States and China.
The US Senate approved a measure package providing Taiwan with an additional $8 billion in military aid just hours before Mr. Blinken stepped onto the tarmac in Shanghai. President Biden has stated that the United States would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. China claims the self-governing island, which has the United States as its most important ally.
The Senate also voted to prohibit the widely used social media application TikTok if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, failed to divest the platform within nine months.
Ms. Yellen had criticized China during her trip earlier this month for its overcapacity issues, which led to an influx of inexpensive Chinese products into the U.S. market.
China has expressed disapproval of these developments. It perceives them as instruments employed by Washington to economically encircle and geopolitically contain it. Officials from the United States respond that Beijing must alter its conduct if it desires the prospect of sanctions and tariffs being lifted or bilateral pacts between the United States and its regional adversaries being eased.
Foreign minister Wang Yi will be cautioned by Mr. Blinken on Thursday that China must reduce its exports of microchips and machine tools to Russia. Moscow reportedly employs these as munitions in its conflict with Ukraine. Beijing has characterized this “baseless accusation” as hypocritical behavior on the part of the United States, days after it endorsed billions of dollars worth of additional lethal assistance for Kyiv.
Washington has been issued a warning by Beijing as well. The organization issued a lengthy and forcefully worded statement before Mr. Blinken’s presence, outlining their expectations for the negotiations.
Although there has been some progress towards stabilizing relations, “the United States persists in advancing the strategy of containing China, continues to interfere in China’s internal affairs, tarnish China’s reputation, and undermine China’s interests through the use of erroneous language and actions.” It stated, “China vehemently opposes such actions and has implemented robust retaliatory measures.”
Academics and state media in China have echoed this sentiment. “Blinken appears to be in China to deliver an ultimatum.” “We will not concede to him and will not compromise on our fundamental issues,” China Foreign Affairs University professor Li Haidong told the Global Times.
A “win-win situation” is possible, according to Wang Yong of Peking University’s School of International Relations. However, he added that the United States has the “wrong perception” of China and that it must demonstrate more “goodwill.”
Taiwan would be one of the most pressing issues for Beijing heading into discussions this week, according to expert Alfred Wu of Singapore.
There are concerns that Mr. Blinken’s visit to China less than a month before the inauguration of William Lai, the pro-sovereignty president of Taiwan despised by Beijing, could spark an escalation of hostilities in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
“China’s intention would be to highlight the red lines.” “Especially in the run-up to the inauguration on May 20th, both sides would want to lay the groundwork to prevent escalation,” said Mr. Wu, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Their delicate relationship will continue to be tested beyond that date, as the United States approaches another presidential election in which both candidates vie to be strong on China.
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While returning to the football pitch with the Beijing Cyclones, both sports and politics occupy one’s mind.
It was a “huge honour” for quarterback Mu Yang to once provide commentary for Chinese fans during a Super Bowl game in Los Angeles. He expects that China and the United States will continue to engage in such interactions in the future.
“This is the world’s largest game.” It would be beneficial for us if National Football League superstars could instruct us on how to play elite football.
Henry Mu, on the other hand, values the ability to “communicate culturally through this game.”
Chinese citizens can participate in American athletics, while American citizens are cordially invited to visit China. It is wonderful to become acquainted and to form friendships.
“Peace, not war.”
