US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Visit China Amid Tensions
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit China on Tuesday, April 23, Reuters reports. Blinken is planning a four-day trip to China, where he will hold meetings with Chinese officials amid growing tensions, especially due to China’s proximity to Russia and its activities in the South China Sea against the Philippines.
US Concerns Over China’s Support to Russia
Blinken is expected to express US concerns over Beijing helping Russia to build its defense industry to participate in the war in Ukraine. «China welcomes Secretary Blinken, who will visit the country in the coming days,» said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jie during a regular press briefing.
Political Relations Between China and Russia
After Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Beijing and Moscow have strengthened their partnership. In particular, China has been helping Russia bypass Western sanctions. In October 2023, the US Department of Defense reported that China was supplying Russia with weapons, including drones, firearms, and equipment.
In April of this year, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell noted that Russia has almost fully restored its armed forces, likely with support from China.
