U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on September 27 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
This meeting comes after increasing concerns in Washington that Chinese companies are providing Russia with key materials, like chips and drones, helping to strengthen Russia’s military in the war against Ukraine.
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told Congress that China’s support for Russia is coming from "the very top" of the Chinese government, according to Voice of America (VOA).
Blinken’s meeting with Wang is important because the U.S. has accused Chinese companies of supplying Moscow with equipment for the war, despite sanctions.
In response, Washington has imposed sanctions on some Chinese firms linked to Russia's defense industry.
Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesperson, said the U.S. regularly discusses its "differences" with China to ensure both countries understand each other's positions, even if they don’t agree.
Diplomatic Tensions Rise
The meeting between Blinken and Wang is also seen as preparation for a possible call later this year between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The U.S. has long been worried about China’s support for Russia, fearing it could drag out the conflict in Ukraine.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke at the UN, saying Ukraine would not accept a deal imposed by other countries to end Russia’s invasion. He also questioned the role of countries like China and Brazil, who have called for peace talks with Moscow.
