When the US imposed sanctions on Chinese officials this week, just two days before the first meeting between the Biden administration and China, it sent a signal that the encounter in Alaska on Thursday will not result in a thaw in relations between Washington and Beijing.

Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, and Jake Sullivan, national security adviser, will hold five hours of talks in Anchorage with Yang Jiechi, the top Chinese foreign policy official, and Wang Yi, foreign minister, marking the first serious engagement with Beijing under President Joe Biden.

But in a strong signal before the meeting, Washington imposed sanctions on 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials over a new Chinese law that further erodes democracy in Hong Kong. China described the move as a “vicious attempt” by the US to interfere in its affairs.