Monitoring Desk
MUNICH: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, met on Saturday in what was the first face-to-face meeting between the two world powers since the United States (US) shot down Chinese surveillance balloon, the US State Department said on Saturday.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the annual security conference in Munich, where leaders from across the world have gathered to discuss crucial geopolitical issues.
During the meeting, a range of issues and challenges, including Chinese surveillance balloons and Beijing’s alliance with Moscow amid Ukraine war were discussed in detail.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Blinken made clear that the US will not stand for any violation of its sovereignty. The spokesman noted that the Secretary of State condemned China’s surveillance balloon incursion and declared the act as irresponsible which must never took place again.
The top diplomats discuss range of issues
The spokesman said that Blinken also reiterated to Chinese diplomat that Chinese alleged surveillance program has intruded into the air space of more than 40 countries and has been exposed to the world.
While speaking on a panel at the security conference on Saturday, Wang Yi said that China will lay out its position for the solution of the Ukraine conflict in a document underscoring that warring sides’ territorial sovereignty and integrity must not be violated.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said that during the meeting, the US Secretary of State warned Chinese diplomat that there would be “consequences if Beijing offers material support or assistance to Moscow.
Read Also: The Netherlands Expel Russian Diplomats, Close Mission
Meanwhile, according to China’s Xinhua news agency, Wang Yi criticized Joe Biden’s decision to shoot down the Chinese surveillance balloon and asked the US to change course, face up to and resolve the damage caused by the indiscriminate use of force to Russia-US relations.
China claimed that Wang Yi agreed to the meeting at the request of the US.
