Antony Blinken expected to warn of ‘dual-use’ support for Russia in trip to China
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Shanghai on Wednesday to start a three-day diplomatic mission in China.
The State Department said Blinken will meet with Chinese officials and will talk about “a range of bilateral, regional and global issues, including the crisis in the Middle East, Russia’s war against Ukraine, cross-Strait issues and the South China Sea.
” Blinken is particularly expected to seize on China’s sale of so-called “dual-use technology” or products that can be used for both military and civilian purposes to Russia, during a later meeting in Beijing with China’s Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi and possibly President Xi Jinping.
“We see China sharing machine tools, semiconductors, other dual-use items that have helped Russia rebuild its defense industrial base that sanctions and export controls had done so much to degrade,” Blinken said during a press conference last week.
Ahead of Blinken’s visit, however, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin asserted China’s trade with Russia should not be limited.
“Let me stress again that China’s right to conduct normal trade and economic exchanges with Russia and other countries in the world on the basis of equality and mutual benefit should not be interfered with or disrupted,” Wang said. “China’s legitimate and lawful rights and interests should not be infringed on.”
It’s incredible to me that Blinken (US) imagines he can dictate/warn China. China will continue conducting business. Perhaps Blinken will receive some suggestions on how to handle the Israel/Gaza situation in a more appropriate fashion? You know stop supporting/ aiding the killing of civilians and allow for food, medicines and other necessities to get where needed!