What to Watch as Blinken Heads to China to Reset Ties
- Top US diplomat scheduled to depart Friday for Beijing
- Earlier trip, and relations, derailed by spy-balloon drama
Antony Blinken in July 2022, when he met Chinese officials in Bali.
Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s last attempt to visit China was derailed by an alleged Chinese spy balloon. Now he’s ready to try again, departing Friday for a two-day trip aimed at stabilizing ties with the world’s second-largest economy and reducing the risk that miscommunication ignites conflict between the two superpowers.
US-China relations went into a tailspin after the balloon was spotted earlier this year over the western United States, prompting President Joe Biden to order it shot down. A lot is now riding on Blinken’s rescheduled visit to meet with high-ranking Chinese officials, possibly including President Xi Jinping.