CIA Director , Meets With Chinese Leaders , Amid Increased Tension.<br />According to an unnamed U.S. official, CIA Director <br />William Burns traveled to Beijing to meet <br />with his Chinese counterparts last month.<br />According to an unnamed U.S. official, CIA Director <br />William Burns traveled to Beijing to meet <br />with his Chinese counterparts last month.<br />'The Independent' reports that the visit is <br />the first to occur since a suspected Chinese <br />spy balloon was shot down over the U.S.<br />'Financial Times' was the first <br />to report on Burns' visit to Beijing.<br />The news comes as Washington looks <br />to ease tensions between the two largest <br />geopolitical rivals in the world.<br />Last month, Director Burns traveled <br />to Beijing where he met with Chinese <br />counterparts and emphasized the <br />importance of maintaining open lines <br />of communication in intelligence channels, Anonymous U.S. Official, via 'The Independent'.<br />Last month, Director Burns traveled <br />to Beijing where he met with Chinese <br />counterparts and emphasized the <br />importance of maintaining open lines <br />of communication in intelligence channels, Anonymous U.S. Official, via 'The Independent'.<br />'The Independent' reports that the unnamed U.S. official <br />spoke on condition of anonymity to share details <br />of Burns' schedule, which is classified information.<br />On June 2, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin <br />also "briefly" spoke with China's <br />minister of national defense, Li Shangfu.<br />The short interaction came <br />at the opening dinner of <br />a security forum in Singapore.<br />China had previously rejected <br />Austin's request for a meeting on <br />the sidelines of the Singapore forum. .<br />China had previously rejected <br />Austin's request for a meeting on <br />the sidelines of the Singapore forum. .<br />'The Independent' reports that Burns <br />has gone on sensitive trips to visit U.S. <br />adversaries at pivotal times in the past. .<br />In 2021, Burns went to Moscow <br />amid indications that Russia was <br />preparing for an invasion of Ukraine.
