The Biden administration has delayed punitive economic measures against China and played down Beijing’s intensifying intelligence-gathering in order to revive diplomatic talks between the two governments. Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Michael Cloud have urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to secure the release of a Texas businessman on death row in China, as Blinken embarks on the highest-level diplomatic visit to China since 2018. The Biden administration is hoping to mend relations with Beijing in order to discuss a range of issues, from trade to human rights.