Comments from US Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, hitting wires repeating calls by high ranking Biden administration officials to roll back tensions and resume regular diplomatic engagements.
- Burns said: "The US is ready to talk to China," adding that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit China "when condition are appropriate."
- Burns: "We need better channels of communication with Chinese."
- Burns' comments follow recent high profile policy speeches from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan which appeared to walk away from a hardline position on "decoupling" from China and urged the two countries work together to manage constructive competition.
- Burns was among 70 ambassadors to president his credentials to Chinese President Xi Jinping last week after more than a year in the job. Washington downplayed the significance but some analysts have suggested it may be part of a broader thaw between the two powers.
- Burns told Politico last week: We’d like to see [diplomatic channels] reliably stronger so that we can work together to head off any accidental conflict, any misunderstandings and deal with the normal business of government on a daily basis."
