Hi Billyxu

billyxu

“1. I have not been visiting China since 1997.”

Without additional context, it is difficult to say exactly what is intended in that sentence.  You are right to think that there are different possible ways to interpret it.  It really is not a good example to use to try to understand the present perfect progressive -- especially without any context.

1. One possible interpretation suggests a reference to a series of repeated, regular visits before 1997 (and after 1997 there were no more visits).  In other words, the negation could refer to the fact that prior to 1997, there had been a series of visits. and after 1997 there were no more regular visits.

2. The other way would refer to either one continuous 12-year visit or repeated visits after 1997.  This interpretation might be used to correct a statement made by someone else.

Number 2 might fit a situation in which someone has stated something incorrectly. 
Perhaps someone said to you "You've been visiting China since 1997, haven't you?"  And you might correct this by saying "No, I've been living in China since 1997 -- not just visiting."

Or possibly someone thinks that you have been visiting China regularly since 1997 and you want to correct that this way, for example:  "No, I haven't been visiting China since 1997 --  I've been coming twice a year since 1987."