US officials make multiple visits to China despite continued spying accusations against Beijing

Multiple high-level U.S. officials have visited China over the summer despite increased tensions over Chinese spying activities in the United States in recent months.

Sadler's comments come as the U.S. has continued to attempt to engage China with diplomacy, with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo meeting with Chinese officials in Beijing and Shanghai earlier this month. Raimondo was the fourth high-level official to visit China over the summer, following trips by special envoy for climate John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The visits come despite increased tensions with China, including multiple reports of the country spying in the United States. Earlier this year, a high-altitude balloon originating in China flew across North America and directly over the contiguous U.S. and was allowed to pass over large portions of the country before being shot down off the coast of South Carolina. The incident was condemned by the U.S., with Blinken canceling a planned trip to China at the time because of the balloon.