Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit China this week with a new threat regarding Beijing’s support for Russia, as the House greenlighted a new $61 billion aid package for Ukraine.
a senior state Department The official previewed Blinken’s upcoming April 24-26 trip to China in a call with reporters on Friday, detailing how he will meet with senior PRC officials in both Shanghai and Beijing.
“I don’t have much to tell you today, but I will just emphasize that as you have seen us demonstrate over the past several weeks and months, we will continue to take the necessary steps to protect our national interests. Are committed.” And we are ready to take the necessary steps against companies that are taking steps contrary to our interests and taking steps that – as we have indicated here – seriously undermine security in both Ukraine and Europe. Is doing,” said the senior State Department official. “And I think we’ve demonstrated our willingness to do that with respect to companies not just in China, but in many countries. And at any rate, again, I think it will be a topic of discussion when we’re in Beijing.” “Will be a major issue.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at a news conference at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting. (Britta Pedersen/Image Alliance via Getty Images)
with him G7 foreign minister counterpartsBlinken on Friday discussed “concerns about the transfer from businesses in the PRC to Russia of a range of dual-use materials and weapons components that Russia is using to advance its military production,” the official said. ” “Worryingly, through Chinese support, Russia has largely restructured its defense industrial base, which not only has implications on the battlefield in Ukraine, but also poses a major threat to broader European security.” It happens, we believe.
Blinken and other US diplomats will express those concerns to China and “our intention is to see China scale back that support,” which is beginning to pose a “threat to European security,” the official said.
The State Department could not immediately confirm whether there would be a meeting with Blinken. Chinese President Xi Jinping, A senior State Department official confirmed to reporters that Blinken is expected to meet his counterpart, Director General and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British, French, Canadian, Italian, Japanese and German officials attend the G7 meeting on the island of Capri on April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
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In Shanghai and Beijing, the Secretaries will “focus on implementing the leaders’ commitments in San Francisco to enhance cooperation on issues such as countering narcotics, strengthening peer-to-peer communications, and establishing dialogue on artificial intelligence risks and security.” Can go,” said a senior State Department official. Said.
state Department Blinken outlined three goals for the visit: “making progress on key issues,” “communicating concerns clearly and directly on bilateral, regional and global issues” and third, “managing competition responsibly.” ” so that “it will not result in miscalculation or conflict.” ,
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a news conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Rosa Pangabine/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Blinken is expected to “clearly and clearly raise his concerns on issues ranging from human rights, unfair economic and trade practices to the global economic consequences of PRC industrial overcapacity.”
The official said the secretary would also “reiterate our deep concerns about the PRC’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base,” “discuss the crisis in the Middle East” and “in the Indo-Pacific, including the PRC’s provocations in the South China Sea.” Will discuss the challenges.” “As well as the DPRK’s threatening rhetoric and reckless actions.”
Blinken will “discuss the crisis in Burma” and “also reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the official told reporters.
But g7 summit Last week, Blinken outlined the type of aid China would send to Russia.
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“When it comes to Russia’s defense industrial base, the primary contributor to it right now is China,” Blinken told reporters in Capri, Italy. “We see China sharing machine tools, semiconductors, other dual-use items that have helped Russia rebuild the defense industrial base that has been greatly weakened by sanctions and export controls. Now, if China On the one hand, it wants good relations; on the other hand, Europe and other countries cannot promote the greatest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War.”
