“We believe in the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and the PRC in order to responsibly manage the relationship,” declared Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, in a February 7 statement. “Unfortunately, the PRC has declined our request. Our commitment to open lines of communication will continue.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had tried to arrange a telephone conversation with China’s Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe, after the February 4 shoot-down of the Chinese spy balloon, but the Chinese official refused to take the call.
