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| Image Credit: Google |
US Department
of State has revealed that US and Chinese officials engaged in "candid and
productive discussions" in Beijing.
Daniel
Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs,
and Sarah Beran, National Security Council Senior Director for China, met with
Chinese officials Ma Zhaoxu and Yang Tao on Monday.
The talks took
place shortly after the US military accused China of unsafe maneuvers near a US
military ship in the Taiwan Strait, escalating tensions between the two
countries.
Despite the
intensifying competition, the mid-level talks reflect the ongoing diplomatic
efforts between the US and China.
Building on
Recent Diplomacy and Maintaining Communication:
The State
Department described the discussions as part of the efforts to maintain open
lines of communication and build upon recent high-level diplomacy between the
two countries.
The talks
followed the visit of CIA Director William Burns to China last month, which
aimed to foster dialogue and understanding.
Focus of the
Talks:
During the
talks, the officials exchanged views on the bilateral relationship,
communication channels, and other pertinent issues.
The American
officials reiterated their commitment to standing up for US interests and
values.
Maritime
Incident and Differing Narratives:
The discussions
took place against the backdrop of a recent maritime incident.
The US military
accused a Chinese ship of unsafe maneuvers near the USS Chung-Hoon destroyer in
the Taiwan Strait.
However, China
rejected the US version of events, claiming that the American destroyer had
initiated provocations.
Increasing
Concerns over Chinese Military Aggressiveness:
The US has
expressed concern over the "increasing level of aggressiveness"
displayed by the Chinese military.
The recent incidents,
including an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver by a Chinese jet near an
American aircraft in the South China Sea, have raised the risk of
misunderstandings and potential accidents.
Tensions and
Areas of Disagreement:
The US-China
relationship has experienced significant strain in recent years due to various
issues, including trade rules, Taiwan's status, China's claims in the South
China Sea, and US efforts to counter Chinese influence in the Asia-Pacific
region.
Both sides have
emphasized that they do not seek confrontations or a new Cold War.
Anticipation of
Improved Relations:
Despite the
challenges, US President Joe Biden has expressed optimism about a potential
thaw in US-China relations, predicting that it would happen,
"very shortly."
However, the
recent incidents and ongoing disagreements highlight the complexity of the
relationship and the need for ongoing dialogue and engagement.
(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)
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