U.S.-China talks in Beijing brighten mood

Beijing: Meetings between senior US and Chinese officials in China this week sparked a bright mood, with Beijing still wary of more “provocative” moves by the US and blatant clashes still a risk. Both sides agreed to maintain a line of communication.

Washington and China’s statements regarding meetings with Chinese officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Daniel Krittenbrink and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu, were positive, saying the talks were candid and productive.

Just before Krittenbrink arrived in Beijing on Sunday, the U.S. Navy reported on Saturday a “dangerous interaction” in which a Chinese warship crossed in front of a U.S. destroyer in the delicate Taiwan Strait, suggesting a future clash. Raises the odds that it could happen. Control.

Krytenbrink’s visit also follows China’s apparent disdain for US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin last week when his request for formal talks with the Chinese side was blatantly denied.

“Both sides had frank, constructive and fruitful communication on promoting improvement of China-US relations and properly managing and controlling differences,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement about Tuesday’s Krittenbrink talks. .

The two sides agreed to continue communication, according to a statement.

“The two countries had candid and productive discussions as part of an ongoing effort to maintain open lines of communication and develop recent high-level diplomacy between the two countries,” the State Department said late Monday. bottom.

President Joe Biden’s administration is stepping up engagement with China as relations between the world’s two largest economies sour over issues ranging from China’s democratic Taiwan claim to its military activities in the South China Sea. are promoting