Against the background of the tense relations between the two countries, not least because of the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the US coast, there had been speculation about a meeting between the two diplomats in Munich.
Blinken warned China of “consequences” should Beijing provide Russia with “material support”. At the same time, he stressed that the US “does not want a conflict” with China and underlined the importance of diplomatic dialogue and open lines of communication “at all times”.
Wang had previously accused the US of reacting “hysterically and absurdly” to the alleged Chinese spy balloon shot down in US airspace. In a speech at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, he accused the US government of having a “misguided” view of China and of wanting to “smear” Beijing’s reputation.
China urges the US not to do such “absurd things” just to “divert attention from domestic problems,” Wang said. “There are many balloons from many countries in the sky. Do you want to shoot down every one of them?” asked the top Chinese foreign policy maker ironically.
The day-long overflight of the suspected Chinese spy balloon over several top-secret US nuclear weapons depots had led to a scandal between Washington and Beijing. Blinken canceled a planned visit to Beijing at short notice.
A US fighter jet shot down the balloon over the sea on February 4th. The US military then recovered debris that is now being examined. Beijing describes the balloon as a weather balloon and rejects allegations of espionage.
