Blinken's China Goals Include "Cooperation On Macroeconomic Stability"

The US State Department has released a Q&A transcript from a press briefing with Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and Assistant Secretary of State for East Daniel Kritenbrink which took place a short time ago on Secretary on State Antony Blinken's upcoming trip to China. LINK

• Kritenbrink says Blinken has three goals in mind: "to establish communication channels, [to] stand up and speak out for U.S. values, and to explor[e] potential cooperation on transnational challenges... such as climate and global macroeconomic stability."
• Campbell, opening by stating, "the PRC was convinced that the United States was in terminal decline," outlines significant enhancements to US defence and political capabilities in the region. Including, "we've deepened the U.S.-Japan alliance in ways hard to imagine," adding that Tokyo is set to include dramatically increase military spending.
• Markets will be particularly focused on any signs that Beijing and Washington can develop guardrails to manage security concerns and allow the continuation of economic ties.
• Beijing has so far appeared reluctant to compartmentalize a defence and economic relationship. A key development from the trip will be the scheduling of a bilateral meeting between President Biden and President Xi.