Biden Administration Delays Punitive Measures Against China in Effort to Revive Diplomatic Talks

The Biden administration has delayed punitive economic measures against China and played down Beijing’s intensifying intelligence-gathering in order to revive diplomatic talks between the two governments. This comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken departs on the highest-level diplomatic visit to China since 2018.

According to former U.S. officials, congressional aides, Western diplomats and regional experts, the administration has been “slow walking” certain decisions in recent months, such as planned restrictions on investment in China and declassifying intelligence about the origins of the coronavirus, in order to mend relations with Beijing.

Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Michael Cloud, both Republicans of Texas, have implored Secretary Blinken to take all measures necessary to secure the release of Mark Swidan, a 48-year-old Texas businessman who has been on death row in China since 2012 on what the U.S. says are trumped-up charges. The two Republicans delivered a letter to the State Department on Thursday night, saying that Blinken’s visit “represents perhaps the final opportunity to end the injustice of Mr. Swidan’s imprisonment.”

“They want to calm the waters with China,” said a former U.S. official. “They are trying to get the Chinese to the table to talk about a range of issues, and they don’t want to poison the well.”

The Biden administration’s efforts to revive diplomatic talks with China come as the two countries face a range of issues, from trade to human rights. It remains to be seen whether Secretary Blinken’s visit will be successful in achieving the administration’s goals.