Blinken's China visit amid diplomatic challenges.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China this week to meet with Foreign Minister Qin Gang and potentially President Xi Jinping, marking his first trip to China as secretary of state and the first time a U.S. secretary of state traveled to China in five years. The visit comes as relations between Beijing and Washington are improving after a massive feud erupted in February with the downing of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that breached U.S. airspace. The two sides will prioritize raising U.S. “values and interests,” establishing reliable communication channels, and exploring cooperation on climate change and economic issues.