U.S. Secretary Of State And Chinese Counterpart Start Meeting With Fiery Exchanges

The first in-person meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi in Anchorage, Alaska, started with a back and forth of fiery exchanges.

Ahead of Thursday’s meeting, Blinken hurled criticism at Beijing’s actions, saying they threaten a rules-based order that prolongs global stability, which Washington works hard to maintain.

Beijing fired back saying the U.S. has been using its military and financial clout to pressure other countries and instigate conflict by interfering in other nations’ internal affairs.

Blinken and Yang are joined by U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese State Councilor Wang Yi for a two-plus-two meeting.

Among several agendas, they’re to discuss include the denuclearization of North Korea as well as U.S. sanctions on Chinese telecom companies.