Global Courant
The news
Leading Republicans in Congress on Friday denounced Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken for traveling to China this weekend, accusing him of undermining national security by trying to normalize diplomatic relations with Beijing while pushing for a tougher approach.
Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, threatened to subpoena Mr. Blinken if he did not provide documents on Friday night listing retaliatory actions the US government has considered against China, and when they would be implemented.
“The Biden administration’s weak actions on the global stage continue to embolden the CCP,” New York Representative Elise Stefanik, the fourth Republican in the House, said in a statement. The foreign minister’s trip, she added, will “legitimize” the “ongoing subversion of our sovereignty” by the Chinese Communist Party.
Why it matters
The clash reflects two divergent approaches to dealing with a rising China, and could influence future debates over military spending. Republicans have accused the Biden administration of a cowardly response to Chinese provocations, such as the spy balloon that flew over the United States earlier this year, and argue that it would be wiser to show military solidarity with Taiwan than to launch a diplomatic thaw to pursue.
“Engagement disconnected from a robust military deterrent? I’m not sure what it will actually accomplish,” said Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Republican from Wisconsin and the chairman of a House panel focused on strategic competition with China.
But Democrats argue that engagement is key. New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, the chairman of the foreign relations committee, said he hoped that during the summit we can “create some level of communication, especially on the defense side, so that we can resolve the conflict with Beijing.”
Background
Beijing broke a series of diplomatic, military and energy deals with the United States last year in the wake of then-speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan over China’s objections. Relations between the two countries suffered another setback earlier this year, when China’s spy balloon hovered over the United States and hovered near sensitive military sites. Mr Blinken canceled a planned trip to Beijing in the aftermath of the balloon incident.
Last week, revelations that China has been operating espionage facilities in Cuba since at least 2019 and recently upgraded their ability to monitor electronic communications in the United States threatened to disrupt Mr Blinken’s travel plans again. They also inspired a round of vitriol from GOP lawmakers against Mr. Blinken for continuing to hold high-level talks with Beijing.
What’s next
Mr McCaul is seeking to prove that State Department officials have deliberately dragged their feet in punishing China by demanding that they see the Department’s so-called competitive action calendars. The documents would show how long the department took to implement certain measures, such as sanctions or export controls, after they were announced, if at all.
The State Department was not expected to meet the 6 p.m. deadline that Mr. McCaul had set out to produce the documents.
