US-CHINA: Chinese Vice FM To Visit US As Defence Mins Set To Meet In Singapore

(MNI) London - The Chinese Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu will visit the US from 30 May-2 June to hold talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. From 2021 to February 2024 Campbell had served as the White House's Indo-Pacific in order to, as the FT reported, "...sharpen the US focus on China as the “pacing threat” — its priority strategic consideration." In February the US Senate confirmed Campbell as Deputy SoS, leaving the Indo-Pacific role vacant. 

• The announcement of talks comes a day after the Chinese MoFA confirmed that the US and China had held talks on 24 May regarding maritime affairs. Both sides agreed to maintain communication over maritime issues, with the potential for a new communications channel between the head of the US Indo-Pacific Command and their counterpart heading China's Eastern Theater Command. 
• While relations between Washington D.C., and Beijing remain strained, maintaining and even expanding bilateral high-level military communication in the region could serve to significantly reduce the prospect of escalation via miscalculation. 
• The Ma-Campbell talks will come at the same time an expected first in-person meeting between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III and Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun in Singapore at the IISS Shangri La Dialogue - the premier Asian defence summit - running from 31 May-2 June.