China calls US ‘irresponsible’ for suggesting Beijing cancelled security talks
Foreign ministry says US official ‘completely distorted the facts’ and it was Washington that wanted to postpone the meeting
China’s foreign ministry criticised the United States for suggesting that Beijing was behind the cancellation of sensitive security talks planned for this month, underscoring the severity of trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement late on Wednesday suggestions made by a US official that China had delayed the talks “completely distorted the facts, had a hidden motive and were extremely irresponsible”.
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“We request related parties stop this sort of behaviour of making something out of nothing and spreading rumours,” she said.
Beijing and Washington are locked in a spiralling trade war, with frictions between them threatening to move beyond trade.
The meeting of the US China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue, which first took place in Washington last year, was due to be held with Mattis and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
China on Tuesday said it had postponed the talks with the United States at the request of Washington.
Reuters reported last week, citing sources briefed on the matter, that the key diplomatic and security meeting may not take place due to tensions in relations.
