Also, Times graphics show how Russia likely blew up Ukraine’s dam.
Blinken arrives in China
Antony Blinken arrived in China yesterday — the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state to China since 2018 — in the hope of slowing the downward spiral of relations between Beijing and Washington.
Blinken met with China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang, for five and a half hours, one hour longer than scheduled. The two men and their aides then had a stroll together and a working dinner together for two hours.
The official Chinese summary of the meeting was bleak. Qin asserted that U.S.-China relations were at their lowest point since the start of normal diplomatic ties in 2019. He also pointed out that the Taiwan issue was the greatest risk to relations between China and the U.S.
According to the U.S. summary, Blinken said that the U.S. would stand up for the interests and values of the American people “and work with its allies and partners to advance our vision for a world that is free, open, and upholds the international rules-based order.”
What the U.S. wants: Officials have stressed that re-establishing high-level diplomacy is their priority. Security issues are likely to weigh heavily, and Blinken plans to talk with Chinese officials about global issues, including climate change and economic stability worldwide.
China’s approach: China is expected to raise a litany of grievances during the two-day visit, reflecting Beijing’s view that the U.S. is a declining hegemon determined to cling to power by containing China.
G.O.P. reaction: Leading congressional Republicans excoriated Blinken on Friday for traveling to China. They accused him of undermining national security by attempting to normalize diplomatic relations with Beijing, as they press for a more hard-line approach.Evidence suggests Russia blew up Ukrainian dam
The Kakhovka dam in Ukraine was designed to withstand almost any attack imaginable from the outside. Evidence reviewed by The New York Times clearly suggests that Russia blew it up from within.
The dam, which is controlled by Russia, was built during Soviet times, which meant that Moscow had the structure’s engineering drawings and knew about its Achilles’ heel: a small passage underneath the dam reachable from the machine room. This passageway, the evidence suggests, is where an explosive charge detonated and destroyed the dam.
Details: Seismic sensors in Ukraine and Romania detected the telltale signs of large explosions on the day of the collapse, and U.S. intelligence satellites captured infrared heat signals that also indicated an explosion. Additionally, as water levels fell, the section that collapsed was no longer visible above the water line — strong evidence that the foundation had suffered structural damage, engineers said.
