U.S.-China Tensions Simmer as Blinken Meets in Shanghai
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken opened his first full day of meetings in China on Thursday by engaging with local government officials in Shanghai. He engaged in discussions with Chen Jining, the Chinese Communist Party Secretary of Shanghai, covering local and regional issues.
Blinken’s trip to Shanghai follows a $95 billion foreign aid package signed by President Joe Biden, which includes $8 billion to counter China’s assertiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea. China has strongly condemned this move as a provocation, and also opposes efforts to force the sale of TikTok, a social media platform owned by a Chinese company.
Despite these tensions, Blinken’s visit is seen as a sign that both sides are willing to engage in dialogue. “I think it’s important to underscore the value of direct engagement,” Blinken told Chen. “We have an obligation … to manage the relationship between our two countries responsibly.”
Chen echoed this sentiment, stating that the recent Biden-Xi call had contributed to the “stable and healthy development of our two countries’ relationship.” He expressed hope that Blinken would gain a “deep impression” of Shanghai.
Blinken is expected to head to Beijing for talks with national officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi. These discussions are likely to touch upon regional security, human rights, and trade.
