Washington has launched a concerted diplomatic marketing campaign behind closed doorways geared toward pressuring China over the current balloon incident and the Ukraine battle, Politico journal reported on Wednesday, citing officers conversant in the matter and a diplomatic cable.

The trouble was mentioned to have been initiated after the US accused Beijing of sending “a high-altitude surveillance balloon” over its territory. The balloon first entered US airspace on January 28 and was shot down by a US fighter jet on February 4. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned later there can be “a major problem” if China sends weapons to Russia throughout its battle with Kiev.

In keeping with the report, on February 5, the White Home despatched an “motion request” with 28 speaking factors to its diplomatic posts around the globe. It was mentioned that officers had been instructed to make use of “personal diplomatic engagements” to inform their counterparts in host international locations that Beijing was spreading “false info” in regards to the balloon.

On the similar time, the State Division reportedly urged diplomats to emphasize that Washington was “not seeking to escalate the state of affairs.” A State Division official was quoted as saying that the cables had been “fact-based” and “not an effort to interact in a messaging train or to place spin on the ball.” 

US diplomats have held greater than a dozen conferences with Chinese language officers since late January and have briefed allies about new intelligence, Politico mentioned.

Beijing claimed that the balloon was a civilian climate analysis airship that had veered off beam. The Chinese language Overseas Ministry maintained that the spying accusations had been a part of Washington’s “info warfare.” 

China additionally denied offering arms to Moscow. “It’s the US, not China, that has been pouring weapons into the battlefield,” Overseas Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin instructed reporters on Monday. “On the Ukraine problem, China’s place boils right down to supporting talks for peace.” 

Chinese language State Councilor Wang Yi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. Wang mentioned Beijing was looking for to strengthen ties with Russia and proceed to work collectively in direction of a “multipolar world.” 

Putin mentioned that Moscow was anticipating a go to by Chinese language President Xi Jinping at a later time.

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