CIA Director Burns met Chinese leaders in Beijing as Washington tries to thaw tensions

CIA Director William Burns went to Beijing in May to fulfill with Chinese counterparts, a U.S. official mentioned on Friday, in what’s the highest stage go to by a Biden administration official since a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down by American forces.

Burns‘ visit, first reported by The Financial Times, comes as Washington tries to cool tensions with Beijing over the balloon and other recent conflicts between the world’s two largest economies and geopolitical rivals.

U.S. officers have lengthy warned that China rejects their efforts at outreach. That raises the potential of miscommunication spiraling into battle, they are saying.

“Last month, Director Burns traveled to Beijing where he met with Chinese counterparts and emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication in intelligence channels,” mentioned a U.S. official who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate Burns‘ schedule, which is classed.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin additionally spoke “briefly” Friday with Li Shangfu, China’s minister of nationwide protection, on the opening dinner of a safety discussion board in Singapore. China had earlier rejected Austin’s request for a gathering on the sidelines of the discussion board.

President Joe Biden has typically despatched Burns on delicate journeys to fulfill U.S. adversaries. Burns went to Moscow in late 2021 to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin about indications that Russia was gearing as much as launch a brand new invasion of Ukraine.