U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China from April 24 to 26 to hold talks with senior officials in Shanghai and Beijing.
Blinken’s second visit to China comes as the United States warns the United States not to involve Russia in the war with Ukraine because Chinese companies directly supply key components to Russia’s defense industrial base.
The State Department said other pressing items on the agenda include counternarcotics, improving military-to-military communications, establishing talks on artificial intelligence risks and security and exploring ways to strengthen civilian ties.
A senior State Department official told a news conference on Friday that the United States was “realistic and clear-eyed about the prospects for a breakthrough” on any issue on the agenda. Some analysts said they did not expect any significant progress in the talks.
China aids Russia in Ukraine war
In a joint statement this week, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations urged China to halt the transfer of dual-use materials and weapons parts used by Russia to advance its military production.
U.S. officials said the materials include large quantities of microelectronics, drones, cruise missile technology and nitrocellulose, which Russia uses to make weapons propellants.
“China cannot have the best of both worlds” – helping Russia and maintaining good relations with Europe, Blinken told reporters at a news conference on the Italian island of Capri on Friday.
A senior U.S. State Department official told VOA at a virtual press conference on Friday that the United States is “ready to take measures if necessary” against Chinese companies that are “seriously undermining the security of Ukraine and Europe.”
Analysts say the United States may sanction Chinese banks that facilitated the transfer of the materials. Washington has sanctioned Chinese individuals and companies that provide material support to Russia and is seeking similar measures from European allies.
Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, told VOA: “Compared to the United States, the EU has not really imposed the same level of sanctions on Chinese individuals or companies.”
Grieco said the United States is working with other G7 members to gain more support from European countries for similar actions.
Beijing rejected what Chinese officials said was Washington’s attempt to “smear” or “attack normal relations” between China and Russia.
China insists that it supervises the export of dual-use materials to Russia in accordance with the law. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a recent briefing that the United States “should not harm the legitimate rights and interests of China and Chinese companies.”
Taiwan
Blinken’s visit to China is scheduled to take place just weeks before the inauguration of Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te on May 20.
The United States will send an unofficial delegation to his inauguration, including former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and American Institute in Taiwan President Laura Rosenberg.
Blinken will emphasize the United States’ enduring interest in maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
“In this important and sensitive period before the inauguration on May 20, all countries will contribute to peace and stability, avoid provocative actions that may increase tensions, and show restraint. This will be our message going forward. information,” a senior State Department official said.
Anti-narcotics
Fentanyl is the leading cause of death in Americans ages 18 to 49.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, China remains the primary source of fentanyl-related substances trafficked through international mail and express operations and the primary source of all fentanyl-related substances entering the United States.
“It is in China’s interest to cooperate to reduce and end the flow of chemical precursors to the United States,” a U.S. State Department official said.
He added that the U.S. delegation visiting China next week will “conscientiously implement” the restart cooperation agreement reached in November 2023, paying special attention to the “concrete progress” of the two countries’ law enforcement agencies in curbing the flow of these chemical precursors.
Some analysts say the extent and durability of the cooperation remains to be seen.
“China views counternarcotics and broader international law enforcement cooperation as strategic tools that can be used to achieve other goals,” wrote Vanda Felbab-Brown is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
“Although China’s current goal is to reduce tensions, China’s anti-drug cooperation is vulnerable to new crises in the bilateral relationship,” she added.
Blinken’s visit to China is the latest in a series of high-level diplomatic events aimed at stabilizing relations between China and the United States. It follows Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s recent visit to Guangzhou, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Munich in February, and US President Joe Biden’s November meeting in Woodside, California. Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks.
China expressed its welcome to the upcoming visit of the top diplomat of the United States to China.
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