As US and Chinese officials landed in Anchorage this week, the temperature was well below freezing. But when they sat across the table at the Captain Hook hotel, another brutal chill hit the room.
Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, told the media that he and national security adviser Jake Sullivan would express “deep concerns” about Chinese behaviour towards Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan when they spoke in private with Yang Jiechi, China’s top foreign policy official, and Wang Yi, foreign minister.
After short opening statements from the Americans, Yang lambasted the US in a 16-minute speech that accused it of being an imperial power that was weak on human rights and racism at home.