Chinese diplomat visits Washington amid heightened tensions

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday during his three-day diplomatic trip. In their meeting, Biden emphasized that both countries “need to manage competition in the relationship responsibly,” according to the State Department. Wang’s first conversation with Blinken addressed “areas of difference” while exploring places for cooperation. The talks this week could set the stage for a meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in California next month.

Why are relations strained between China and the United States? Beijing on Wednesday criticized U.S. involvement in international conflicts in response to a Pentagon report that found China quickly building its nuclear arsenal. China called the finding false. A Chinese fighter jet on Tuesday came within 10 feet of a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea, said the U.S. military. News of the encounter was released Friday.

Dig deeper: Read Erica Kwong’s report in World Tour about the imprisonment of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong.