Blinken may travel to China soon as Biden seeks talks with Beijing.

The United States’ highest-ranking diplomat is set to visit China, just months after a Chinese spy balloon invaded U.S. territorial airspace. This news comes as a surprise to many, given the recent tensions between the two nations.

Why the Visit is Controversial

The Biden administration has been urging the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to reestablish normal communications, but the appearance of a Chinese spy balloon over U.S. territory caused public outrage and led to the cancellation of Blinken’s original trip to Beijing earlier this year.

The spy balloon was allowed to travel across the entire continental United States, including over three sites associated with the U.S. nuclear arsenal, before being shot down over the Atlantic Ocean. This incident has raised concerns about China’s intentions and capabilities, and many are questioning the wisdom of Blinken’s upcoming visit.

What Critics are Saying

President Joe Biden’s administration has been pushing to boost engagement with China, despite ongoing tensions over issues such as Taiwan’s independence, Chinese military aggression in the South China Sea, and the CCP’s campaign of transnational repression and intellectual property theft. Critics argue that decades of engagement have failed to change Beijing’s behavior for the better, and that the administration’s overtures to China are undermining U.S. national security.

Despite these concerns, Blinken’s visit to China appears to be going ahead. The State Department has not confirmed the trip, but reports from Reuters and Bloomberg suggest that unnamed officials have confirmed the effort.

What’s Next?

It remains to be seen what will come of Blinken’s visit to China, and whether it will lead to any meaningful progress in the relationship between the two nations. For now, all eyes are on the U.S. Secretary of State as he prepares to embark on this controversial trip.

• Will Blinken’s visit to China help to ease tensions between the two nations?
• Or will it only serve to further complicate an already fraught relationship?
• Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.