US and China Leaders Refuse to Communicate as US Sustains Support for Ukraine War

The United States is determined to sustain its involvement in the war in Ukraine, which has now entered its second year, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also spoke to CNN on Thursday, revealing that he and his Chinese counterpart, Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe, have not spoken for a couple of months.

Austin said that the Chinese minister has refused to take his call in the wake of the US shootdown of the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon. He added that he hopes Minister Wei will schedule the call soon.

The confirmation that the leaders of the two largest militaries in the world are not in direct contact comes as the two countries continue to build up their forces in Asia. Austin said that Wei knows where to find him.

The US has been providing support to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion one year ago. Blinken said that the incredible courage of the Ukrainian people, as well as the support provided by dozens of countries around the world, has been instrumental in sustaining the US involvement in the conflict.

The US and China have been locked in a tense standoff for months, with both countries accusing the other of aggressive military maneuvers and cyberattacks. The US has also imposed sanctions on China over its human rights violations. With no direct contact between the two countries’ leaders, it remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved.