China-U. S. diplomatic relations continue-White House
2023.02.18 13:22

China-U. S. diplomatic relations continue-White House
By Ray Johnson
Budrigannews.com – The White House stated on Friday that, despite the fact that U.S. diplomatic communications with China remain open following the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon earlier this month, contact between the militaries of the two nations remains “unfortunately” closed.
John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council (NYSE:) President Joe Biden wanted to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping when it was “appropriate,” but he also stated that it was not the “right time” for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to travel to China after he postponed a trip there from February 5 to 6 due to the balloon incident.
Despite the tensions caused by the balloon incident, U.S. and Chinese diplomats can still communicate, Kirby stated at a White House news briefing.
“I am aware that there are tensions, but Secretary Blinken and the foreign minister are still in contact. He said, referring to the People’s Republic of China, “We still have an embassy in Beijing… and the State Department can also communicate directly with the PRC embassy personnel here.”
He stated, “Unfortunately, the military lines aren’t open, and that really is what we would like to see changed.”
After then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the Chinese-claimed island of Taiwan in August, China cut off several military-to-military communication channels and other areas of bilateral dialogue. This brought Washington-Beijing relations to a dangerous low.
Biden gave a speech on Thursday that was about the balloon incident. He stated that he hoped to investigate the matter and would discuss it with Chinese leader Xi.
Kirby stated in response to a question that Washington had not officially requested a call with Xi, but added: That does imply that it will not occur and that the president does not wish to speak with President Xi. He should.”
Kirby stated, “There are no prerequisites for a call.” When the time is right, the president will want to talk to President Xi.”
According to officials from the White House, Biden and Xi last spoke at a meeting in November on the island of Bali, and both parties saw Blinken’s trip to Beijing as an opportunity to continue efforts to stabilize their increasingly tense ties.
Kirby made the comment at a time when American officials were looking into the possibility of Blinken and China’s top diplomat Wang Yi meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, which started on Friday.
In defense of the administration’s handling of the balloon incident and the shooting down of three other unidentified objects, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also in Munich for the conference, offered her perspective.
She stated to MSNBC, “We were confident that it was used by China to spy on American people” and that “it needed to be shot down.”
According to Harris, “We will maintain our perspective in terms of what should be the relationship between China and the United States.” That won’t change, but without a doubt, that balloon wasn’t helpful.”
China was furious when the American military shot down the 200-foot (60-meter) balloon off the coast of South Carolina on February 4 after it passed through the continental United States. China claimed that the airship was there to monitor the weather and had blown off course.
The United States of America reported on Friday that efforts to recover sensors and other debris from the balloon had been completed successfully, and that investigators were currently examining the balloon’s “guts.”