As Blinken heads to China, these are the major divides he will try to bridge

By MATTHEW LEE
AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken is starting three days of talks with senior Chinese officials in Shanghai and Beijing this week. The trip comes as U.S.-China ties are at a critical point over global disputes. Ties between Washington and Beijing are tense. The rifts are growing wider. From Russia and Ukraine to Israel, Iran and the broader Middle East as well as Indo-Pacific and trade issues, the U.S. and China are on a series of collision courses that have sparked fears about military and strategic security as well as international economic stability. China says it has the right to trade with Russia and accuses the U.S. of fanning the flames by arming and funding Ukraine.