Blinken says U.S.-China meeting will be 'frank'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that an upcoming meeting with China is a chance to lay out Washington’s concerns with Beijing in “frank” terms.

“We intend to raise, and we will raise, the host of issues, some of which have already been touched on today that concern us."

The White House announced Wednesday that Blinken will meet with top Chinese officials in Alaska next week.

It will mark the first high-level in-person meeting between the two countries under U.S. President Joe Biden's administration and will take place on his way back from his first overseas trip to Japan and South Korea as part of an American push to solidify alliances in Asia to counter China.

Biden’s administration has started reviewing U.S. policies toward China, as the world’s two largest economies attempt to amendrelations which suffered during Donald Trump’s presidency.

Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first phone call last month and appeared at odds on most issues.

Discussion next week will likely focus on China's policies toward Hong Kong, its pressure on Taiwan, and its treatment of Uighurs, according to one Asia expert.

The United Nations and rights groups say China has detained more than a million Uighurs in what the U.S. has deemed a genocide.

Beijing denies abuses, saying facilities in the region are for vocational training and counterterrorism education.

Blinken said on Wednesday China should open Xinjiang to the rest of the world, if they insist they’re not violating human rights of Uighur Muslims.

China's embassy in Washington did not respond immediately to a request for comment.