Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering a meeting with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi at a security conference later this week, people familiar with the matter said, in what would be their first face-to-face talks since an uproar over a Chinese balloon led to a new spike in tension.
Blinken and Wang would meet at the Munich Security Conference, which runs February 17 to February 19, provided both sides agree, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.
The top US diplomat cancelled his trip to Beijing that had been set for last week after the US identified an alleged Chinese spy balloon hovering over US airspace.
The US said it would send the wrong impression to have Blinken visit while the balloon was still aloft.
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Chinese balloon row: Joe Biden says US-China relations have not taken a big hit
A day after the trip was cancelled, the Pentagon shot down the balloon off South Carolina.
