Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to embark on a three-day visit to China, holding talks with senior Chinese officials in Shanghai and Beijing. The discussions come amid strained relations between the two countries over a range of global issues.
One key topic on the agenda is the Russia-Ukraine war. The Biden administration has expressed concern about China’s support for Russia’s defense industry, which is seen as undermining Western sanctions and prolonging the conflict. Blinken is expected to convey these concerns directly to Chinese officials.
Tensions in the Middle East will also be a focus of the talks. U.S. officials have urged China to use its influence with Iran to prevent the escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas. Blinken will reiterate the need for restraint and urge China to pressure Iran to halt its support for proxy groups in the region.
In the Indo-Pacific region, Blinken will underscore America’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He will also express concerns about China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea, which have raised tensions with neighboring countries.
Additionally, Blinken will raise the issue of human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region, Tibet, and Hong Kong. He will also address the detention of several American citizens in China. Despite previous efforts, China’s efforts to curb the export of fentanyl precursors have yielded limited results, and Blinken will emphasize the importance of addressing this issue.
The outcome of Blinken’s visit remains uncertain. While the mere fact of the trip may be seen as a positive step, the deep-seated differences between the U.S. and China make it challenging to find common ground on many of these contentious issues.
