US Secretary of State to Confront China Over Support to Russia

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Visit Beijing and Shanghai, Meetings with Wang Yi and Others Expected

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit China this week and is expected to urge the country to halt exports of military-capable components and semiconductors to Russia.

According to Bloomberg on the 20th (local time), the U.S. State Department announced that Blinken will visit Beijing and Shanghai from the 24th to the 26th and is scheduled to meet with high-ranking officials, including Wang Yi, the head of the Communist Party of China’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Minister of Foreign Affairs. This will be Blinken’s first visit to China since June of last year, and it is not yet known whether he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During his visit, Blinken is expected to express deep concern over China’s support for Russia’s defense industry. The U.S. believes that China is indirectly supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, even without providing direct arms like North Korea. This is because parts and technology supplied by China are believed to be backing the development of Russian missiles and drones.

The Financial Times (FT) reported that Blinken will warn of punitive measures against China if It does not stop supporting Russia. The U.S. is known to be considering sanctions against Chinese financial institutions.

In addition to these issues, the two countries plan to discuss North Korea, the South China Sea, the situation in Taiwan, measures against drugs like fentanyl, strengthening military communication, and artificial intelligence (AI) issues during their meeting. The U.S. also plans to clearly and honestly express its concerns about human rights issues, unfair economic and trade practices, and overproduction in China. They also plan to exchange views on the situation in the Middle East and look forward to China’s role in urging Iran to exercise restraint.

By continuing high-level dialogues, the U.S. and China aim to suppress the risk of conflict in areas such as the South China Sea and promote stability in their relationship. Earlier this month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited China, and the two countries’ defense ministers recently held their first video conference in about a year and a half.