US Secretary of State Blinken set to travel to China for talks in coming weeks

The exact timing for Mr Antony Blinken’s previously scrapped visit to China is still fluid, say people familiar with the matter. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to visit China in the coming weeks for talks with top officials, possibly including President Xi Jinping, said people familiar with the matter, as the United States looks to resume high-level communication despite continued tensions. 

Mr Blinken had planned to visit Beijing in February but scrapped the trip after the US identified what it said was a Chinese spy balloon crossing over the continental US.

The exact timing for the visit is still fluid, according to the people, who asked not to be identified.

A State Department spokesman said it had no travel to announce and that Mr Blinken’s previously scrapped trip would take place when conditions allow.

If it takes place, the visit would be part of President Joe Biden’s effort to restore some normalcy to a relationship that continues to be roiled by tense military encounters, punitive economic measures and accusations from both sides that the other is jeopardising global stability.

On Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby warned of a “growing aggressiveness” by China after interceptions of a US ship and surveillance aircraft in recent weeks.

“It won’t be long before somebody gets hurt,” he said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin replied that the US is “sending warships halfway around the world to China’s doorstep in a provocative way”.

Mr Kirby said the two sides were making progress in opening other channels towards setting up visits for US Cabinet secretaries.

While China rebuffed US efforts to arrange a meeting between the two countries’ defence ministers at a forum in Singapore last week, high-level contact has resumed in other areas.

Mr Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US State Department official for Asia, had “candid” talks with Chinese officials on Monday.

His trip followed a visit by US Central Intelligence Agency director William Burns in May, while top commerce and trade officials have also met recently.
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