Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China this coming week as Washington and Beijing try to keep ties on an even keel despite major differences on issues from the path to peace in the Middle East to the supply of synthetic opioids that have heightened fears over global stability.
The last time Joe Biden called Xi Jinping a dictator, at a June fundraiser in Northern California, Chinese officials called the remarks absurd and a provocation.
In the ensuing bilateral talks, pressing concerns loom large: Australia alleges that China is engaged in espionage, while Beijing is scrutinizing the AUKUS and Quad security blocs in the Asia-Pacific.