U.S. urges China military dialogue despite rebuff to Blinken

The United States on June 20, 2023 pressed its call for military communication channels with China despite that request being rebuffed during Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing over the weekend

The United States on Tuesday (June 20) pressed its call for military communication channels with China despite that request being rebuffed during Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Beijing over the weekend.

Establishing military-to-military communications was essential to reduce frictions between the two global powers, Sarah Beran, White House National Security Council senior director for China and Taiwan Affairs, told reporters in a briefing about the trip.

"This is an absolutely critical way for us to manage competition, crisis communication, ensure that there is not miscommunication or misperception about each other's intentions," Ms. Beran said.

"We remain willing and able at all levels to meet and call on China to respond appropriately to that."

During Mr. Blinken's visit, the first to China by a U.S. Secretary of State since 2018, the nations agreed to temper rivalries to avoid conflict but there were no breakthroughs.

China cited U.S. sanctions as an obstacle to military dialogue which Mr. Blinken said he had repeatedly raised with his hosts and would continue to push for.

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu has been sanctioned since 2018 over the purchase of combat aircraft and equipment from Russia's main arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.