US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed worries on Friday regarding China’s backing of Russia’s military actions, which is among several issues posing a threat to the recent progress in relations between the world’s largest economies.
During a lengthy meeting in Beijing, Blinken discussed this issue and others with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, continuing the trend of high-level communication between the two nations that began last year.
“At our press conference today, I emphasized our serious concern about China’s contribution to powering Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine,” Blinken stated, using the official name of China, the People’s Republic of China.
Blinken Concerns Over China’s Support for Russia’s Military
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed worries on Friday about China backing Russia’s military actions, which is among several issues jeopardizing the recent progress in relations between the world’s largest economies.
During extensive talks lasting five-and-a-half hours in Beijing, Blinken addressed this concern with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi. These discussions mark the latest in a series of high-level engagements aimed at improving relations between the two countries after last year’s tensions eased.
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China’s Role in Russia’s Defense Industry
China leads in supplying various critical items like machine tools, microelectronics, and nitrocellulose, crucial for making munitions and rocket propellants, which Moscow utilizes to enhance its defense industry.
Highlighting the strong Beijing-Moscow ties, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun, expressing their commitment to bolstering their defense partnership.
They met during a regional security gathering in Kazakhstan, where Shoigu emphasized the need for joint military exercises among Russia and its Asian allies to counter perceived US attempts at destabilization.
While China refrains from directly arming Russia in the Ukraine conflict, its provision of dual-use goods significantly impacts Ukraine’s situation, raising concerns about Russia’s threat to European nations.
Regarding potential sanctions over China’s support for Russia, US officials remain silent, wary of harming broader bilateral relations, which have already faced strains due to past incidents like Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit and the US interception of a Chinese surveillance balloon.
China maintains it hasn’t supplied weaponry in the Ukraine crisis and urges uninterrupted trade with Russia, emphasizing its non-involvement in the conflict.
China-US Relations and Economic Concerns
Blinken’s recent visit didn’t make much headway on key issues like US concerns over cheap Chinese exports and tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea. Instead, both sides focused on practical matters like people-to-people exchanges.
During his discussions with Wang, Blinken also met Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi emphasized China’s worries that the US was hindering its economic growth, calling it a critical issue for improving the China-US relationship.
Wang, in an earlier conversation with Blinken, likened the China-US relationship to a stabilizing “giant ship” but highlighted increasing negative factors. He accused the US of continuously trying to stifle China’s economy, trade, and technology, labeling these efforts as containment.
The talks’ agenda was outlined during a summit between Biden and Xi in November, followed by an April follow-up call.
Agreements and Challenges Discussed During Blinken’s Visit
Prior to Blinken’s arrival in China, President Biden approved a bill allocating $8 billion to counter China’s military strength, along with substantial defense aid for Taiwan and $61 billion for Ukraine.
During discussions, Wang emphasized the importance of respecting China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, particularly regarding Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Additional topics on the agenda included artificial intelligence and the US’s efforts to limit China’s supply of fentanyl precursors.
Blinken and other US officials engaged in talks with China’s Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong, focusing on anti-narcotics cooperation and the fentanyl issue.
While acknowledging China’s progress, Blinken stressed the need for further action during a press conference.
Furthermore, the two nations agreed to hold their inaugural discussions on artificial intelligence in the upcoming weeks.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1. What is Antony Blinken concerned about regarding China’s actions?
Ans. Blinken is worried about China backing Russia’s military actions and its impact on relations between the US and China.
Q.2. What topics were discussed during Blinken’s meeting with Wang Yi?
Ans. They discussed China’s support for Russia, defense issues, artificial intelligence, and anti-narcotics cooperation.
Q.3. What recent actions have strained US-China relations?
Ans. Past incidents like Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit and the US interception of a Chinese surveillance balloon have strained relations.
Q.4. What is China’s stance on its involvement in the Ukraine conflict?
Ans. China maintains it hasn’t supplied weaponry in the Ukraine crisis and emphasizes its non-involvement in the conflict.
Q.5. What agreements were reached during Blinken’s visit to China?
Ans. Agreements included discussions on defense aid for Taiwan, countering China’s military strength, and collaboration on AI and anti-narcotics efforts.
