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On June 16, two days after McConnell’s hospitalization, the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs announced that Chao met with its president, Wu Ken, in Beijing, WLKY reported.
The following day, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States announced that Chao met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng during her visit.
Chinese officials did not indicate that Chao’s trip involved any official U.S. government business.
Meanwhile, the Daily Beast reported that Chao traveled to China just three days after McConnell reportedly had a cardiac arrest and underwent CPR.
The DB also reported that Chao met with the Chinese vice president, a largely ceremonial position.
According to Chinese officials, the two discussed efforts to strengthen relations between China and the United States, though Chao has no authority to negotiate anything on behalf of the U.S. government.
Earlier this week, emergency dispatch audio first published by journalist Desirée Townsend indicated that first responders were dispatched to McConnell’s Washington, D.C., residence for a reported cardiac arrest.
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