The United States does not ask Saudi Arabia or "anyone" to "choose" between them and China, says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. China has strengthened its trade and diplomatic relations in the Middle East, traditionally under US influence.
Beijing has even overseen the recent rapprochement between the region's two major rivals, Iran and Saudi Arabia. The two countries have mainly sought to show their unity, including at a ministerial meeting of the coalition fighting the Islamic State group (IS)