WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken is starting three days of talks with senior Chinese officials in Shanghai and Beijing this week with U.S.-China ties at a critical point over numerous global disputes.
The mere fact that Blinken is making the trip — shortly after a conversation between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, a similar visit to China by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and a call between the U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs — might be seen by some as encouraging, but ties between Washington and Beijing are tense and the rifts are growing wider.
From Russia and Ukraine to Israel, Iran and the broader Middle East as well as Indo-Pacific and trade issues, the U.S. and China are on a series of collision courses that have sparked fears about military and strategic security as well as international economic stability.
Mexico's likely next president would be its first leader with a Jewish background
Boeing 737 Max 9: United Airlines finds loose bolts during inspections
Work to begin on Nelson road badly damaged in 2022 floods
'We found the bastard': Aotearoa's 10th meteorite discovered
Malaysia: 10 killed after two military helicopters collide during training
New law to give police, courts greater powers in gang crackdown
Parliament repeals Fair Pay Agreements
Work to begin on Nelson road badly damaged in 2022 floods
Report urges fixes to online child exploitation CyberTipline before AI makes it worse
Bayer faces Australian test with judge to decide whether weedkiller caused cancer
Revealed: Harry Styles superfans face 80
How the New Zealand Falcons are tackling stigma against LGBT people in sports