U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken and China's most senior foreign policy official Yang Jiechi talked on the phone last Friday. The Japanese and international media have reported the two top diplomats’ first telephone conversation with differing headlines and angles. It’s important to pay attention to the press and official coverage of the call.
CNN’s headline was “China's top diplomat takes hardline stance in first call with new U.S. Secretary of State.” Reuters, by contrast, used the headline, “Blinken presses China on Xinjiang, Hong Kong in call with Beijing's top diplomat.” These headlines are in fact two sides of the same coin.
Yang reportedly told Blinken that the United States should "correct recent mistakes, and work with China." Was Yang arrogantly looking down on Blinken? And did Blinken properly rebut? Most importantly, did they discuss Taiwan and if so, how?