The U.S. Talks Tough Before a Meeting With China
In both America and Japan, national interests have taken precedence over party politics.
Presenting a united front on China.
Photographer: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Bloomberg
In the opening weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency, his administration has sent mixed messages on China. While Secretary of State Antony Blinken has endorsed his predecessor’s determination that China is committing genocide against its Uyghur minority, the president himself has signaled that the U.S. wants to collaborate with Beijing on issues of mutual interest, such as climate change.
This is why Blinken’s face-to-face meeting with senior Chinese officials in Anchorage, Alaska, on Thursday is so important. Aside from setting the tone for U.S.-China relations for the next four years, it will also clarify what Biden’s priorities are.