Foreign ministers’ meeting: Blinken criticizes China for aiding Russia’s armaments

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized China for supporting the Russian arms industry at a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. He made it clear that the US would continue to take “appropriate measures” if China did not take action against this threat to European security, a US State Department spokesman said. Blinken also expressed his concern about Beijing’s “destabilizing actions” in the South China Sea.

China’s foreign minister, in turn, accused the United States of not stopping its “efforts to contain and suppress China, but even intensifying them.” The risks in bilateral relations are continuing to increase, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. We are at a “critical point.” Wang also suggested that the United States has a false understanding of China.

The two top diplomats met on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in the Laotian capital Vientiane for their conversation, which lasted just under an hour and a half. Despite their differences, both foreign ministers acknowledged that it was important to keep the common communication channels open.

Relations between the USA and China have been extremely tense for some time. The USA accuses China of, among other things, human rights violations, unfair trade practices and unlawful territorial claims in the South China Sea. China, on the other hand, criticizes the United States as a hegemonic power that wants to hinder the development of the People’s Republic with far-reaching sanctions and punitive tariffs.