Leading Biden administration officials will meet with their Chinese counterparts in Anchorage, Alaska, later this month, the State Department announced Wednesday.
secretary of state Anthony Blink
Antony BlinkenBlinken will appear before the Defense Foreign Affairs Committee overnight: Pentagon chief to press for Manchin support for Colin Kahl | House Dems tries to limit transfer of military equipment to police State Department appoints two Iranians for “involvement in serious human rights violations” i President Biden
Joe BidenDNC strengthens his financial team. The Pentagon extends the presence of the National Guard at the Capitol until May 23 Blinken to appear before the Committee on Foreign Affairs MOREnational security adviser Jake Sullivan
Jake SullivanBiden’s policy in the Middle East can not be anti-Trump or Obama repeat the Hillicon Valley: China is involved in the rape of Microsoft | The White House adds a critic of Big Tech QAnon was not baffled after the White House’s false prediction that Microsoft’s email violation is an “active threat” MORE will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Politburo member Yang Jiechi 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,” Price said. “Secretary Blinken will return to Washington, DC on March 19.”
Asked about the meeting during a session of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday afternoon, Blinken described it as “an important opportunity, for us, to set out in very frank terms the many concerns we have with actions and behaviors. of Beijing that challenge the security and prosperity and values of the United States and our allies. “
“We intend to raise and will raise the multitude of issues, some of which have already been addressed today that concern us. We will also explore ways of cooperation and talk about the competition we have in China, with China, to make sure 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 follow-up commitments with China unless Beijing changed its relative behavior.
The South China Morning Post reported earlier this week that the two sides were trying to set up a meeting in Alaska.
Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
Lloyd Austin Pentagon extends the National Guard’s presence at the Capitol until May 23. Night Defense: Pentagon chief to press for Manchin support for Colin Kahl House Dems tries to limit military-level gear transfer to Pentagon police chief to press for Manchin’s support for key candidate MORE they are expected to travel to Japan and South Korea next week, in what will be Biden’s first trip abroad for senior officials.
The meeting between the US and China is likely to touch on 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 on areas of shared interest, but intends to put pressure on China on its human rights and economic abuses.
Biden held his first call with Chinese President Xi Jinping in February, during which he expressed concern over several issues.
“Of course, there will be a number of commitments that the president and his national security team will maintain with China and other countries in the region in the coming months and years, but we are directly committed,” the press secretary said. the White House Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiKlain: Biden is likely to deliver a joint speech in Congress after selling the relief package to the White House chief of staff: Young is a “very serious candidate” for OMB director On The Money: project COVID-19 relief law on the way to the passage of the house, Biden signing Wednesday | First new controls that will come out next week MORE He told reporters Tuesday when asked about reports of a possible meeting.
“There are a number of issues that we have, of course, talked to the Chinese through these commitments. We are not dwelling on our concerns, but we are also looking for opportunities to work together,” Psaki added.
Updated at 3:51 p.m.