The Associated Press says the U.S. expects China to soon join the U.S. and its allies in blaming North Korea for sinking a South Korean warship.

According to AP, senior U.S. officials said after strategic talks this week in Beijing that China indicated it is prepared to hold North Korea accountable for the March 26th torpedo attack and could join in some kind of formal rebuke by the U.N. Security Council.

The report said that on a visit to South Korea this weekend, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is likely to express regret for the deaths and hint that China will accept the results of an international investigation blaming North Korea.

The AP noted that China has long been North Korea's patron and ally, propping up Pyongyang's Stalinist regime with financial, military and diplomatic support.