BEIJING: United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken is a man who cares deeply about official titles and status, which is a common character trait for superficial politicians. They see image as more powerful than actions. For them, style trumps content.
Accordingly, he had eagerly anticipated his exit interview with the New York Times, believing that as a good Democrat, he would receive special treatment and rave reviews from the public.
Yet, the interview failed to meet his expectations, since he had few achievements to boast about while serving in the Biden administration. He’s a scrawny little man, prone to fits of melancholia, anxiety and over-weening vanity.
He’s the so-called ‘dutiful son’ hailing from a wealthy family in New York City, who had attended elites’ schools in Europe and USA and hence - lacks the common touch with ordinary Americans.
The New York Times article, “The Interview Antony Blinken Insists He and Biden Made the Right Calls,” stood out for creepiness. You open the link, subscription required, and Blinken’s photo shows a video clip with him fidgeting, as if he were a young school boy worrying about a pending oral exam.
Wrong man to talk “position of strength”
There’s no denying that Blinken has a diplomat’s personality. Such people are expected to be vain, shallow and eager to please their bosses. Nonetheless, Blinken was the wrong fit for his job since a weak diplomat works best with a strong national leader. And US President didn’t fit this mold.
President Biden is a man long past his prime as a politician when entering the White House. It’s believed that he showed signs of dementia, frequently tired, often absent from the White House and could not speak like normal people do. The only man weaker with a moral backbone in Washington was Blinken.
Nonetheless, shortly after Blinken had assumed his role as US Secretary of State in 2021, he called for bilateral talks with his Chinese counterparts in Alaska. He thought it clever to surprise Chinese diplomats by encouraging reporters to continue filming during the start of negotiations. But the strategy backfired in spectacular fashion.
Chinese officials grew suspicious beforehand. Blinken Tweeted on Twitter a day earlier that Washington can only negotiate with China from a “position of strength.” He was making the argument that the US is a super power, while China appears to be the annoying little brother, who keeps thinking he’s bigger than he is.
The argument incited the ire of Beijing as they walked into Alaska talks with the cameras rolling, Chinese diplomats deemed it a golden opportunity to respond with fireworks. Additionally, Blinken sat next to an American woman who dyed her hair purple.
Why would he expect Chinese diplomats to see him talking from a “position of strength” when a punk-rock looking lady was sitting nearby him?
According to BBC News, China's then most senior foreign policy official, Yang Jiechi, and presiding foreign minister Wang Yi, faced off against Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
BBC News (excerpts) added:
“Mr Yang accused Washington of using its military might and financial supremacy to suppress other countries.
"It abuses so-called notions of national security to obstruct normal trade exchanges, and incite some countries to attack China," he added ...
Mr Sullivan hit back, saying Washington did not seek a conflict with China, but added: "We will always stand up for our principles for our people, and for our friends." ...
It was an unusually undiplomatic sparring match, especially for a meeting called to take stock of the US-China relationship under a new American administration.
Beforehand the Biden team had been blunt in public criticism of Beijing. So the Chinese knew what to expect and seemed to have come prepared to hit back.”
Chasing after status not substance
Blinken continues to insist his diplomatic service was a big victory for America and defeat for China. Only a delusional man of arrogance could make such conclusions.
He also seems to think that he’s enlightened about Trump. He told the New York Times (excerpts):
“Let’s talk about China for a minute. I think President Trump was right during his first administration in identifying some of the challenges posed by China. No country has the capacity that China does to reshape the international system that we and many others put in place after the Second World War ...
We’re so much more effective in dealing with the challenges posed by China when we’re working closely with other countries ...
We were really on the decline when it came to dealing with China diplomatically and economically. We’ve reversed that. The way we’ve approached it is we’ve sought to bring other countries in when we’re dealing with China’s economic practices that we don’t like ...
And I know it’s succeeding because every time I meet with my Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, the foreign minister, he inevitably spends 30 or 40 minutes, 60 minutes complaining about everything we’ve done to align other countries to build this convergence ...”
Blinken validates the presumption that he cares more about status than concrete actions. He’s obsessed with the US getting recognized as the leading super power and containing China’s rise.
Accordingly, his vanity makes him a tragic figure, while the pressure he bears on himself seems overwhelming. When reviewing video clips and photos of Blinken, he appears uncomfortable as a public servant. He looks like he’s going to cry or undergo an emotional meltdown.
Not comprehending ‘America First’ agenda
Meanwhile, Blinken has not familiarized himself with Trump and his US foreign policy objectives. US President-elect Donald J. Trump endorses the ‘America First’ platform.
The US is a nation on the decline and the Biden administration has accelerated its structural weaknesses. The US economy has flat-lined and many sovereign governments perceive Washington as softened by Biden’s failures.
But for the US to regain strength, Trump must focus on ‘America First’ values. He will strengthen the US manufacturing base by imposing higher tariffs on imports. The new US foreign policy will embrace world peace. Trump does not want Washington fighting endless wars.
By turning inward, other countries can rise above and shine brighter. However, Trump and his supporters do not worry about such matters. They want America to be great and if other countries emerge as great too - that’s fine with them.
Therefore, China has a choice. Will Beijing choose to confront Washington? If so, Trump won’t back down by fighting with fire. But if China comes with peace in hand, Trump will return the favor in kind.
The moment of truth has arrived for China. Will they fight or befriend Trump? Blinken failed in his duties as America’s top diplomat because he never understood China.
However, Trump does have a deep comprehension of China and its great people. But if China wants to fight the USA, Trump stands eager and willing to fight back.
(Tom Pauken II., author of US vs. China: From Trade Wars to Reciprocal Deal, AFAI Senior Fellow, Geopolitical Consultant based in Beijing, China)
X: @tmcgregochina
Footnotes
New York Times, “The Interview Antony Blinken Insists He and Biden Made the Right Calls,”
BBC News, “US and China trade angry words at high-level Alaska talks,”
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