Climate policy visit continues U.S. diplomacy with China

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry on Monday met in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart to discuss reducing pollution. The meeting was part of a growing effort by the United States to stabilize its relationship with China as tensions continue over trade, territorial disputes, and fentanyl. On Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi for an hour and a half at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Jakarta, Indonesia. Blinken and Yi had “candid and constructive discussions” on a variety of issues, “including on areas of difference and potential areas of cooperation,” according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

Has China displayed any military force recently? On Tuesday and Wednesday, more than 60 Chinese warplanes and nine navy ships went near Taiwan. Roughly 50 of those planes crossed the middle of the Taiwan Strait, the unofficial boundary between the two nations. Taiwan is scheduled to have its yearly combat readiness drills to prevent invasion later this month.

Dig deeper: Read Erica Kwong’s report in WORLD Magazine about how Hong Kong is pursuing exiled dissidents.