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By Anna Commander
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Conservatives are ripping United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken after a picture of him with Chinese President Xi Jinping surfaced on Twitter depicted him as "emasculated."
Blinken is the first top U.S. diplomat to visit China in five years, amid frosty U.S.-China relations. A February trip was postponed following the diplomatic tumult sparked by what the U.S. said was a Chinese spy balloon flying over American airspace.
China's designs on Taiwan and accusations of human rights abuses are also responsible for much of the coolness in the relationship, while American fears that China may challenge its technological or trade interests have also played a role.
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As pictures of Blinken's trip emerged on social media, conservative commentator and former communications adviser to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, Steve Guest, slammed Blinken for his handshake with Xi, saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words. Instead of projecting strength, Blinken looks emasculated."
Republican strategist Arthur Schwart also tweeted his thoughts on the picture, saying, "Yikes. Body language."
Far-right political activist and commentor Pamela Geller tweeted her thoughts on the picture saying, "Secretary of State Blinken in Beijing: 'We do not support Taiwan independence.' Owned and paid for by the CCP. *The body language in this photo says it all. New nickname: Bend over Blinken."
Vikash Yadav, Associate Professor of International Relations at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, noted the significance of Blinken's body language saying, "Xi's body language in that handshake with Blinken is familiar and yet telling. China doesn't acknowledge how much it has been weakened economically and politically in recent months."
Meanwhile, geopolitical strategist Velina Tchakarova called Xi and Blinken's handshake a "light in the tunnel."
"The Blinken-Xi Jinping handshake happened against the background of historic low of the U.S.-China relations. Blinken's visit and meetings with top-ranking officials in China is certainly a light in the tunnel."
Blinken himself posted the picture on Monday saying, "Had a candid, substantive, and constructive conversation with People's Republic of China President Xi Jinping in Beijing today. We discussed a range of important issues, including the need to manage our relationship responsibly."
After his meeting with Xi, Blinken spoke to media and said that he raised concerns about China's "provocative actions" in the Taiwan Strait and that the U.S. did "not support Taiwan independence."
In a press release on Monday, U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "The secretary underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and reiterated there has been no change to the U.S. on China policy, based on the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances."
Blinken also reiterated China's assurance not to send lethal aid to Russia to use in the Ukraine war, adding his ongoing concerns that Chinese companies may be providing technology to the Kremlin that could be used against Kyiv forces.
While speaking with NBC, Blinken summarized his trip as an "important start" in stabilizing U.S.-China relations and that the spy balloon chapter "should be closed."
Newsweek has reached out to a China relations expert and the U.S. State Department via email for comment.
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