Having postponed a February trip after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over U.S. airspace, Blinken is set to become the highest-ranking U.S. government official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. Particularly alarming for China's neighbors has been its reluctance to engage in regular military-to-military talks with Washington, despite repeated U.S. attempts. He said he would also be raising the issue of U.S. citizens detained in China on charges Washington sees as politically motivated. But U.S. officials in a briefing call previewing the trip earlier in the week played down any expectations of much progress. It could also set the stage for meetings between Xi and Biden at multilateral summits later in the year.

---

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Qin Gang, Wang Yi, Xi Jinping, Blinken, ” Blinken, Janet Yellen, Gina Raimondo, Xi, Biden, Xi's, Humeya Pamuk, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Chinese Foreign, State Department, Washington, U.S, Treasury, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Beijing, American, China, U.S, Tokyo, Taiwan, Xi's Bali, United States