According to a media report, China has informed the United States that it has not set a new date for US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to travel to Beijing.
The Financial Times reported on Saturday, citing four people familiar with the matter, that they would wait and see whether the administration of US President Joe Biden would release the FBI investigation into the alleged Chinese spy balloon that had been shot down.
Earlier this week, Blinken said he would aim to visit China if conditions are right. He added that the goal is not to contain China or start a new Cold War.
The spy balloon incident
The US says it shot down a Chinese spy balloon on February 4 off the coast of South Carolina. The incident further clouded the already tense relations between the two countries, and Foreign Minister Antony Blinken canceled a trip to Beijing.
The visit of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to China is also marked by tension. Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said on Saturday that he “hope and believe” that Germany will support a “peaceful reunification” of the People’s Republic with Taiwan. Previously, Baerbock had warned of a military conflict between China and Taiwan, which would be a “horror scenario”. (with Reuters)
