Senior officials from the Biden government will meet with their Chinese colleagues in Anchorage, Alaska, later this month, the State Department announced on Wednesday.
State Secretary Antony Blinken
Antony BlinkenBlinken must attend Foreign Affairs Committee Night defense: Pentagon chief presses for Manchin’s support for Colin Kahl | House Dems tries to limit the transfer of military-grade equipment to the police State Department designates two Iranians for ‘involvement in serious human rights violations’ MORE and President biden
Joe BidenDNC strengthens its finance team Pentagon extends National Guard presence on Capitol Hill until May 23 Blinken to appear on the Foreign Affairs Committee MOREnational security adviser of Jake Sullivan
Jake SullivanBiden’s policy on the Middle East cannot be anti-Trump or a repeat of Obama. Hillicon Valley: China implicated in Microsoft breach | White House adds Big Tech critic | QAnon unperturbed by false prediction The White House calls Microsoft’s email breach an ‘active threat’ MORE will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Yang Jiechi, a member of the Politburo, while in Alaska.
State Department spokesman Ned Price announced the meeting in a statement that did not specify the issues the group would discuss.
“The meeting will take place after Secretary Blinken’s meetings with two of our closest regional allies in Tokyo and Seoul. Secretary Blinken and NSA Sullivan will discuss a number of issues with the “People’s Republic of China,” said Price. “Secretary Blinken will return to Washington, DC on March 19.”
Asked about the meeting during a hearing by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Blinken described it as “an important opportunity for us to expose in very frank terms the many concerns we have about Beijing’s actions and behavior. who are challenging the security and prosperity and values of the United States and our allies. ”
“We intend to raise, and we are going to raise, a series of issues, some of which have already been addressed today and which concern us. We will also explore whether there are avenues for cooperation and talk about the competition we have in China, with China, to ensure that the United States has a level playing field and that our companies and workers benefit from it. “
Blinken said the meeting did not represent a “strategic dialogue” and said there were no plans to maintain subsequent commitments to China, unless Beijing changes its worrying behavior.
The South China Morning Post reported earlier this week that both sides were trying to arrange a meeting in Alaska.
Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
Lloyd AustinPentagon extends the National Guard’s presence on the Capitol until May 23. Night defense: Pentagon chief presses for Manchin’s support in Colin Kahl | House Democrats seek to limit the transfer of military-grade equipment to the Pentagon chief of police to press for Manchin’s support in the key candidate MORE are due to travel to Japan and South Korea next week, on what will be the first trip abroad for senior Biden officials.
The meeting between the United States and China is likely to address issues such as the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and China’s behavior in Hong Kong. Biden has made it clear that he wants to work with Beijing in areas of common interest, but intends to put pressure on China over its human rights and economic abuses.
Biden made his first call with Chinese President Xi Jinping in February, during which he raised concerns about a number of issues.
“Of course, there will be a series of commitments that the president and his National Security team will have with China and other countries in the region in the coming months and years, but we are directly involved,” White House press secretary. Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiKlain: Biden will likely deliver a joint speech to Congress after selling aid package to the public White House chief of staff: Young, a ‘very serious candidate’ for director of OMB On The Money: COVID-19 aid project in the pipeline House approval, Biden signing Wednesday | The first new checks will be issued from next week MORE he told reporters on Tuesday when asked about reports of a potential meeting.
“There are a number of issues that, of course, we talked to the Chinese through these commitments. We don’t hesitate about our concerns, but we also look for opportunities to work together ”, added Psaki.
Updated at 15:51