WASHINGTON: In a rare move aimed at easing tensions between the United States (US) and China, a senior US diplomat will travel to Beijing on Sunday, the government announced.
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink is set to visit China and New Zealand from June 4–10, according to a statement issued by the US State Department on Saturday.
During his visit to Beijing, Kritenbrink will be accompanied by Sarah Beran, the National Security Council Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs. The purpose of the tour is to discuss key issues in the bilateral relationship between the two countries, the statement explained.
Recent weeks have seen efforts from Washington to improve relations with China, as both sides express concerns about the potential for a military conflict over Taiwan. At the G7 meeting held in Japan last month, US President Joe Biden expressed optimism that the relationship between Washington and Beijing would soon improve, following an incident earlier this year in which a US warplane shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon that had crossed the country.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin emphasized the importance of renewing dialogue with China to prevent misunderstandings that could escalate into a conflict between the two superpowers. Austin stated that open lines of communication, especially between defense and military leaders, were crucial in avoiding crisis or conflict.
China Declines US Invitation
While the United States invited Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu to meet on the sidelines of the summit, the invitation was declined by Beijing. China’s delegation cited the removal of US sanctions on Li as a precondition for talks. Li had been sanctioned by the US government in 2018 for purchasing Russian weapons, but the Pentagon maintains that it does not prohibit Austin from conducting official business with him.
Kritenbrink’s upcoming trip adds to a series of engagements between officials from the two countries. In a bid to strengthen communication channels, CIA Director William Burns made a secret trip to China last month. Additionally, the White House recently expressed its readiness to engage in nuclear arms talks with Beijing without preconditions. In May, China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao visited Washington to hold discussions with his American counterpart.
Kritenbrink’s visit to China follows his earlier trip to prepare for Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s anticipated visit in February, which was ultimately canceled after the United States reported the sighting of a Chinese surveillance balloon over its mainland.
