Upcoming events: The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin start a four-day trip to Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Monday. The first high-level China-U.S. diplomatic meeting under the new U.S. administration will be held in the state of Alaska from Thursday to Friday.

U.S. top diplomatic and military officials visit Japan, ROK

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin start their four-day trip to Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Monday, the first overseas trips involving senior officials of President Joe Biden's administration since his inauguration.

During their stay in Japan, the two U.S. officials will attend the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee ("2+2") meeting hosted by their Japanese counterparts and virtually meet with businesses and media representatives of Japan.

In the ROK, Blinken and Austin will also have in-person meetings with their ROK counterparts, discussing issues of regional and global significance and highlighting the role of the U.S.-ROK Alliance in the Indo-Pacific region. 

China, U.S. hold first high-level diplomatic meeting

The first high-level China-U.S. diplomatic meeting under the new U.S. administration will be held in the U.S. state of Alaska from March 18 to 19.

Yang Jiechi, the director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will attend the meeting scheduled to be held in Anchorage.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the two countries will "discuss a range of issues, including those we disagree on." Meanwhile, the Chinese side said it hopes to manage differences between China and the U.S. and push the bilateral relations back on a normal track.

The trip would come after Blinken visits Japan and the ROK and before he heads back to Washington, D.C.

Day by Day

Monday: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visit Japan and the ROK (to March 18). European Union (EU) informal video conference with foreign affairs and home affairs ministers. Syria marks the 10th anniversary of an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. Eurozone finance ministers meet. Eurogroup meets.

Tuesday: UK to publish post-Brexit defense and foreign policy review. Informal video conference of EU health ministers. The 33rd anniversary of 5,000 civilian Kurds being killed in an Iraqi chemical weapons attack. EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting.

Wednesday: European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas gives a press conference on COVID-19. Anniversary of the unification of Italy. European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic speaks to the press regarding better regulation in the EU. European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager gives a press conference on "Updating the new industrial strategy for Europe." Dutch Second Chamber election. 

Thursday: China, U.S. top diplomats to meet in Alaska (to March 19).

Friday: Estates of Curacao election. 10th anniversary of Egyptian referendum on constitutional reforms. 

Saturday: China development forum. 

Sunday: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a speech on the occasion of Iranian New Year Nowruz.

(Cover photo by Gao Hongmei)