CIA Head Went to China in May.

The head of the U.S. intelligence agency, CIA Director William Burns, visited China last month for talks with Chinese counterparts, according to two U.S. officials. This move comes as the Biden administration seeks to boost communications with Beijing and maintain open lines of communication amid tense relations.

“Last month, Director Burns traveled to Beijing where he met with Chinese counterparts and emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication in intelligence channels,” one of the officials told Reuters.

Burns, a veteran U.S. diplomat before leading the CIA, has made dozens of sensitive overseas trips as head of the agency, including to hold talks with Russian counterparts and the Taliban in Afghanistan. U.S. officials are careful to stress that his intelligence-related missions are not directly linked to U.S. diplomacy.

Ties Between the Two Largest Economies

Ties between the world’s two largest economies are strained over issues ranging from Taiwan and China’s human rights record to military activity in the South China Sea. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a planned February trip to China after an alleged Chinese spy balloon flew through U.S. airspace over sensitive military sites, kicking off a diplomatic crisis.

But the White House has said efforts are continuing to facilitate visits by Blinken, as well as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

U.S. Overtures to China

Some Biden administration critics have questioned U.S. overtures to China, arguing that past decades of engagement have not yielded significant results. However, the White House remains committed to maintaining open lines of communication and pursuing diplomatic solutions to the challenges facing the two nations.

• Key Takeaways:
• CIA Director William Burns visited China last month for talks with Chinese counterparts.
• The visit comes as the Biden administration seeks to maintain open lines of communication amid tense relations.
• Ties between the two largest economies are strained over issues ranging from Taiwan and China’s human rights record to military activity in the South China Sea.
• The White House remains committed to pursuing diplomatic solutions to the challenges facing the two nations.