What’s new: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will travel to China on Sunday and meet with Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in the eastern city of Tianjin, the U.S. State Department announced Wednesday.
During the two-day trip, Sherman will “discuss areas where we have serious concerns about PRC actions, as well as areas where our interests align,” the State Department said in a statement.
“These discussions are part of ongoing U.S. efforts to hold candid exchanges with PRC officials to advance U.S. interests and values and to responsibly manage the relationship,” it said.
Why it matters: Sherman, the No. 2 at the U.S. State Department, will become the second senior American official to visit China after U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January. John Kerry, Biden’s special envoy on climate, visited Shanghai in April.
Beijing and Washington have been trying to reengage with each other after four years of turbulent relations under former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, tensions remain high between the two countries over several thorny issues including the South China Sea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Contact reporter Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)
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