US security officials see diplomatic progress, decry weak military dialogue with China
- Open channels are critical, ‘particularly given the tensions in the South China Sea and in and around the Taiwan Strait’, John Kirby of the National Security Council says
- China denies being uncooperative and incommunicative, though it has acknowledged ‘many difficulties and obstacles’ in the relationship
Washington is determined to make further improvements in its diplomatic relations with Beijing but is equally concerned at the lack of progress in expanding communication between the two militaries, US defence and security officials said Wednesday.
Recent weeks have seen hints of nascent contact between the People’s Liberation Army and the Pentagon, although the administration of US President Joe Biden continues to sound the alarm at the limited interaction.
“There has been intensive diplomacy, determined diplomacy and we are determined to keep that going forward,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday. “Nobody’s looking for conflict here. So having these diplomatic exchanges are very valuable.”
But Kirby noted that an equally important way to avoid conflict is to ensure that those holding the weapons are in contact, able to talk through mishaps and otherwise build trust.
“And that’s really a critical one … particularly given the tensions in the South China Sea and in and around the Taiwan Strait. So we want to get that channel open.”
01:20
Chinese President Xi Jinping to skip G20 summit in New Delhi, India
Kirby declined to say whether Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping would meet on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in San Francisco in November. On Monday, Xi decided to skip this weekend’s Group of 20 meeting in India.