Blinken Arrives in China

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Shanghai and tBeijing in China to hold meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, and Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jibin from April 24 to April 26.

Both sides conducted deep, objective, and constructive discussions on key priorities in bilateral relations and a range of regional and global issues.

The Secretary emphasized that the United States will continue to use diplomacy to make progress in areas of difference and cooperation that matter to the American people and the world as part of responsibly managing competition with the People's Republic of China.

The Secretary underscored the continued progress in implementing the commitments made by leaders at the Wudesai Summit on key issues, including enhancing cooperation in combating drugs to halt the global flow of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl and its chemical analogs, into the US, and enhancing communication between the militaries to avoid miscalculation and conflict, as well as launching discussions on managing risks and challenges posed by advanced forms of artificial intelligence.

The Secretary also discussed the importance of enhancing people-to-people relations between the US and China.

He emphasized the importance of responsible and reciprocal policies to facilitate expanded exchanges between students, researchers, and businesses.

Blinken addressed non-market economic policies and practices pursued by China that distort trade or threaten our national security, as well as concerns about the global economic consequences of China's excessive industrial capacity.

He called for fair treatment and equal opportunities for American workers and businesses. The Secretary reaffirmed that the United States will continue to take necessary actions to defend our interests and values, as well as those of our allies and partners, including preventing the misuse of advanced American technologies to undermine our national security and economy without unjustified trade or investment restrictions.

The Secretary stressed that resolving issues concerning wrongfully detained or exit-banned American citizens in China remains a top priority.

He raised concerns about the erosion of autonomy and democratic institutions in Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China's human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as transnational repression and individual cases of concern.

The Secretary also expressed serious concerns about China's support for Russia's defensive military industrial base, which enables Russia to continue its war against Ukraine and undermine European and transatlantic security.

The Secretary emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and reiterated that there has been no change in the United States' One-China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act and the Three Joint Communiqués and the Six Assurances.

He expressed concerns about the People's Republic of China's destabilizing behavior in the Second Thomas Shoal and the importance of upholding the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

The Secretary also discussed the need to prevent the escalation of the crisis in the Middle East. He reaffirmed the United States' enduring commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Both sides once again emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication at all times and agreed to continue high-level diplomacy and interactions between the United States and the People's Republic of China in the future.