Blinken meets with China’s Xi as differences grow

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with China’s President Xi Jinping and other Beijing officials as differences between the two nations grow on a number of issues. 

Blinken said he outlined the U.S. worries with China, mentioning Beijing’s backing of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has surpassed the two-year mark, and Taiwan.

“Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support,” Blinken said to reporters following the meeting.

Blinken also said he told Xi that Kyiv’s security is directly correlated to the broader security of the continent. 

“Fueling Russia’s defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security,” Blinken said. “As we’ve told China for some time, ensuring transatlantic security is a core U.S. interest. In our discussions today. I made clear that China does not address this problem.”

Xi stated the two nations need to find compromises to ensure prosperity on both sides, but he expressed worry regarding the U.S. impact on Beijing’s economic growth.