US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit China on Tuesday, April 23, informs Reuters.
According to the source, Blinken will embark on a four-day trip to China on April 23. There, he will hold meetings with Chinese officials against the backdrop of escalating tensions, including China's alignment with Russia and aggressive actions against the Philippines in the South China Sea.
In particular, it is expected that Blinken will express US concerns about Beijing's assistance to Russia in building up its defense industry for involvement in the war in Ukraine.
"China welcomes Secretary of State Blinken to visit China in the next few days," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian at a regular press briefing.
China-Russia political relations
Since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022, Beijing and Moscow have intensified their partnership. Specifically, China has been assisting Russia in circumventing Western sanctions.
In October 2023, the US Department of Defense announced that China was supplying arms to Russia. This included drones, small arms, and equipment.
In April of this year, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell noted that Russia had nearly restored its armed forces, likely with support from China.
