Saudis not asked to choose between US, China: Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saudi Arabia was not being forced to choose between Washington and Beijing, striking a conciliatory tone in Riyadh following tensions with the long-time ally. Blinken, appearing alongside his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan at the end of a three-day visit, denied that Saudi Arabia's warming ties with China were a problem for the US. He added that the United States supported the humanitarian goals that Prince Faisal said were behind lifting Syria's suspension from the Arab League, a move that was condemned by Washington. "We've... been very clear we're not asking anyone to choose between the US and China," Blinken told media after a meeting of the global coalition fighting the IS group. "We're simply trying to demonstrate the benefits of our partnership and the affirmative agenda that we bring." China demonstrated its growing clout in the Middle East when it brokered a surprise rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March.