However, the order of those visits is still a mystery.

Some officials within the administration are adamant about who should travel first, while others are more relaxed about the sequence.

The discussions are ongoing, and US officials are planning ahead of Biden's trip to Japan for the G7, where he is expected to focus on strengthening the alliance against China's coercive behavior globally.

Stops in Australia and Papua New Guinea, which were canceled due to ongoing debt ceiling negotiations, are intended to demonstrate America's commitment to the Pacific region.

State Department officials are making the case for Blinken to be the first administration visitor to Beijing to address a range of issues with Chinese counterparts.

They believe it's important for Blinken to cover topics such as the Ukraine war, fentanyl precursor chemicals from China, tensions over Taiwan, and Americans wrongfully detained in China...