US, China set to meet in tense first talks under Biden

White House says the US will ‘be frank’ on Chinese conduct in the region, as Biden rallies allies to counter Beijing.

The United States is set to broach sensitive topics on human rights and the economy with top Chinese diplomats at the first high-level, in-person meetings under the administration of President Joe Biden on Thursday, during which diplomats are expected to be “frank”. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NSA Jake Sullivan will meet top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi and State Councilor Wang Yi on Thursday and Friday in Anchorage, Alaska. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Thursday the diplomats will bring up “difficult components” of the US-Chinese relationship. “We expect it to be frank.”