True multilateralism does not involve the forming of cliques

Although they found many areas in which they can strengthen coordination and consultation, the high-level meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, between the United States and China on Thursday and Friday was notable for the initial acrimonious public exchanges.

At its conclusion, both sides called the meeting timely and candid, and said it had deepened mutual understanding. But such diplomatic rhetoric cannot disguise the fact that the deepened understanding is how steadfastly they will stick to their previously staked-out positions.

Both sides had said before the meeting they had no high expectations of any breakthroughs to be made, which speaks volumes about the differences between them. But even so, the phone call between leaders of the two countries on Feb 11 should have set the tone for the meeting, which, if conducted with mutual respect, would have been an opportunity to strengthen communication to avoid conflict and strategic misjudgments.

However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken took the initiative to ruin any chance of anything but a vitriolic exchange of views by choosing to pick a fight in his opening remarks. Which is why he met with what he later called a "defensive response".

While US President Joe Biden praised Blinken's performance, adhering to the basic norms of international relations, particularly by showing respect to invited guests, is the very least Blinken should have done. To compliment him for incivility suggests the US has much to relearn about how to get along with others if it wants the international community to welcome it back.

By bragging about US allies' deep concerns over China and deep satisfaction with the US, Blinken simply showed that the Biden administration might be nothing but a less-able-to showboat version of its predecessor, as it seems that they are essentially birds of the same feather when it comes to China.

The world should be vigilant to the US' intention of hijacking multilateralism to make it a fig leaf to cover the true nature of its intentions, which is a return to the winner-take-all bloc politics of the past.

If multilateralism becomes two mutually exclusive clubs, based on whether or not one is subservient to the US, the acute challenges the world faces will remain unsolved. This bodes ill for all.

Both sides said that they hope to continue this high-level strategic communication and consultation, but if the US continues to come waving a thick arm with a big fist at the end of it, then it cannot expect to achieve anything more than it did in Anchorage, which was to show how boorish it has become in its angst.

If it truly wants to be embraced by the international community, it should heed the sage advice that the way to gain a good reputation and be respected is to treat others on an equal footing and with respect.