Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to China this week with a new threat regarding Beijing’s support for Russia, as the House approved a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine. The senior State Department official shared that Blinken will meet with senior officials in Shanghai and Beijing to discuss Chinese firms that are undermining security in Ukraine and Europe. Blinken will express concerns about China’s support for Russia and reiterate the importance of responsible management of competition to prevent conflict.
During a discussion with G7 foreign ministerial counterparts, Blinken highlighted concerns about transfers of dual-use materials and weapons components from China to Russia, which are being used to advance Russia’s military production. The U.S. will express its intent to have China curtail this support, as it poses a threat to European security. While it is unclear if Blinken will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he is expected to meet with Director and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss implementing commitments made in San Francisco and advancing cooperation on various issues.
In Shanghai and Beijing, Blinken will focus on issues such as counternarcotics, mil-mil communication, and talks on artificial intelligence risks. The State Department has outlined three goals for Blinken’s trip, which include making progress on key issues, communicating concerns on bilateral, regional, and global issues, and managing competition responsibly. Blinken will raise concerns about human rights, unfair economic practices, global economic consequences of China’s industrial overcapacity, China’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base, the crisis in the Middle East, and challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
At the G7 summit, Blinken highlighted the aid China is providing to Russia, which includes machine tools and semiconductors that are helping Russia rebuild its defense industrial base. Blinken stressed that China cannot claim to want good relations with Europe while fueling the biggest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War. The State Department official mentioned that Blinken will also discuss the crisis in Burma and reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait during his visit to China.
Overall, Blinken’s trip to China will focus on addressing concerns related to China’s support for Russia, discussing key global issues such as human rights and economic practices, and managing competition to prevent conflict. The U.S. will emphasize the importance of responsible behavior in international relations and express its intent to have China curtail its support for Russia, which poses a threat to European security. Blinken will also meet with Chinese officials to advance cooperation on various issues and discuss regional challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and areas such as the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
