U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken holds a press conference in Beijing American Center at the U.S. Embassy, in Beijing, China, June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/Pool/File Photo
A senior U.S. official has informed reporters that the United States is prepared to take action against Chinese companies providing support to Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. This issue will be a focal point during Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s upcoming trip to China next week.
U.S. officials have expressed increasing concern about what they perceive as China’s role in aiding the retooling and resupplying of Russia’s defense industry following initial setbacks in its invasion of Ukraine. They argue that continued support from China poses a significant risk to the stability of relations between Washington and Beijing.
In a briefing held ahead of Blinken’s planned visit to Shanghai and Beijing from April 24-26, the senior State Department official remarked on the altered state of U.S.-China relations compared to a year ago. During that period, bilateral ties had reached a historic low point following an incident involving the downing of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon by the U.S.
Despite a relatively calmer atmosphere in current relations, the official emphasized that the United States remains committed to strengthening alliances and safeguarding its interests. This commitment, the official clarified, would not be compromised despite the improved tone in U.S.-China relations.
The official stated, “We’re prepared to take steps when we believe necessary against firms that … severely undermine security in both Ukraine and Europe,” when asked about the leverage Washington possesses to persuade Beijing to cease aiding the Russian war effort. The official further noted that the United States has demonstrated its willingness to take such actions against firms from various countries, not limited to China.
Blinken’s upcoming visit marks his first trip to China since June, amidst efforts by the United States to restore high-level engagements that Beijing had curtailed following a 2022 trip by then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, a move contested by China.
During the visit, Blinken is expected to address a range of issues, including the crisis in the Middle East, China’s activities in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, and North Korea’s provocative rhetoric and actions. However, the official downplayed the likelihood of significant breakthroughs on any of these fronts.
Accompanying Blinken on the trip will be senior State Department officials, including the top narcotics official Todd Robinson. Discussions are anticipated to include efforts to combat the flow of illicit fentanyl chemicals from China to the United States.
While the U.S. and China launched a joint counter-narcotics working group in January, a recent report by a U.S. congressional committee suggested that the Chinese government was directly subsidizing the production of illicit fentanyl precursors for sale abroad, exacerbating the opioid crisis in the U.S.
The official did not provide a response to inquiries regarding the alleged subsidies. China has claimed to be taking action to address the fentanyl issue, but has also attributed the crisis in the United States to demand rather than supply factors.
Critics in Washington have argued that the Biden administration has not exerted sufficient pressure on Beijing regarding fentanyl-related substances, which are the leading cause of drug overdoses in the United States.
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