3-6-2023 (WASHINGTON) William Burns, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), undertook a clandestine trip to China last month with the aim of reestablishing lines of communication amidst the frosty bilateral relations between the United States and China, according to a US official on Friday. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official disclosed that during his visit to Beijing, Director Burns met with Chinese counterparts and emphasized the importance of maintaining open channels of communication in the realm of intelligence.
The official did not provide further details regarding the timing of the visit or the specific individuals Burns engaged with during his trip. The CIA has a policy of not disclosing the director’s travel arrangements.
Burns’s visit occurred against the backdrop of Washington’s ongoing efforts to improve relations with China amid escalating tensions over the status of Taiwan. Both sides have expressed concerns about the potential for military conflict.
Furthermore, Washington has accused China of contemplating the provision of military supplies to Russia in support of its invasion of Ukraine—an allegation that China has vehemently denied.
Earlier this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a long-planned diplomatic trip to Beijing following an incident involving a Chinese surveillance balloon that intruded into mainland US airspace, flying over sensitive military installations before being intercepted by a US fighter jet.
State Department officials have indicated that Blinken still intends to visit Beijing, but only when conditions are more favorable.
