Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘It just rang’: In crises, US-China hotline goes unanswered
Associated Press ^ | February 10, 2023 | Ellen Knickmeyer

Posted on 02/11/2023 4:43:26 PM PST by Olog-hai

Within hours of an Air Force F-22 downing a giant Chinese balloon that had crossed the United States, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reached out to his Chinese counterpart via a special crisis line, aiming for a quick general-to-general talk that could explain things and ease tensions.

But Austin’s effort Saturday fell flat, when Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe declined to get on the line, the Pentagon says.

China’s Defense Ministry says it refused the call from Austin after the balloon was shot down because the U.S. had “not created the proper atmosphere” for dialogue and exchange. The U.S. action had “seriously violated international norms and set a pernicious precedent,” a ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying in a statement issued late Thursday.

It’s been an experience that’s frustrated U.S. commanders for decades, when it comes to getting their Chinese counterparts on a phone or video line as some flaring crisis is sending tensions between the two nations climbing.

From Americans’ perspective, the lack of the kind of reliable crisis communications that helped get the U.S. and Soviet Union through the Cold War without an armed nuclear exchange is raising the dangers of the U.S.-China relationship now, at a time when China’s military strength is growing and tensions with the U.S. are on the rise. …

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: china; hotline; lloydaustin; redchina
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

1 posted on 02/11/2023 4:43:26 PM PST by Olog-hai
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Maybe Fenghe is waiting for instructions on what to say? A misstep by any bureaucrat in the CCP can be fatal. Maybe I am being too optimistic.


2 posted on 02/11/2023 4:49:11 PM PST by Spok (They lie, we know they lie, and they know that we know they are lying. And still they lie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Think of the Chinese as Japanese. You had to drop the big one to get them to understand. China’s different for one simple reason: What’s a million Chinese?


3 posted on 02/11/2023 4:51:19 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spok

Yes. Without explicit instruction they won’t stick their neck out.

Last November or so a reporter asked a Chicom spokesman about the protests and he just stared into space for like 30 seconds.


4 posted on 02/11/2023 4:52:21 PM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

5 posted on 02/11/2023 4:53:25 PM PST by JonPreston
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

“Don’t call us, we’ll call you.”


6 posted on 02/11/2023 4:53:45 PM PST by flamberge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DIRTYSECRET

Then go for the so-called Forbidden City.

Just think; we could have taken out the vast majority of the party during that massive party congress last year.


7 posted on 02/11/2023 4:54:37 PM PST by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

I am truly shocked that this happened and was also leaked to the press. BFD if you ask me.


8 posted on 02/11/2023 4:55:33 PM PST by cornfedcowboy ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Origin: “Tell Lloyd Austin I might consider taking his calls if he takes back what he said about my mother. Hurts like that don’t just disappear. Chinese version of Maxine Waters is she?”


9 posted on 02/11/2023 4:55:59 PM PST by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spok

Look at this.

https://youtu.be/e6KRKrSymb0

He had no idea what to say and was scared to death of saying the wrong thing.


10 posted on 02/11/2023 4:56:37 PM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Spok

That’s true.


11 posted on 02/11/2023 4:57:12 PM PST by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

I doubt there is much in this story that is true. Austin (and the AP) are lying SOB’s.


12 posted on 02/11/2023 4:58:44 PM PST by Dalberg-Acton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dalberg-Acton

Lloyd Austin useless POS.


13 posted on 02/11/2023 5:03:12 PM PST by OHPatriot (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

The Associated Press sounds like they’re itchin’ for war.


14 posted on 02/11/2023 5:03:34 PM PST by SpaceBar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

ifinnegan, It seems as though the corrupt Chinese Communist Regime and the Corrupt US Establishment are both paralyzed by fear...


15 posted on 02/11/2023 5:03:37 PM PST by WinstonSmith1984
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: All

HOW RUDE!!!!

And after all the nice things Austin and Milley have done for China.

You’d think that such highly placed double agents would be treated more politely by their masters.


16 posted on 02/11/2023 5:04:13 PM PST by LegendHasIt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

I don’t think Lloyd Austin can speak English very well or clearly. Perhaps the Chinese were waiting to speak with someone with a better command of English, who does not speak gibberish through a mask and a shield.


17 posted on 02/11/2023 5:11:39 PM PST by nwrep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Nobody in the world other than the Biden Administration respects Lloyd Austin.


18 posted on 02/11/2023 5:13:31 PM PST by Vision (Woke is communism and it has no place in America. Election Reform Now! Obama is an evildoer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WinstonSmith1984

ifinnegan, It seems as though the corrupt Chinese Communist Regime and the Corrupt US Establishment are both paralyzed by fear...

Just suppose they have been shooting down objects over their
country too...!!!

Imagine if you will...


19 posted on 02/11/2023 5:15:02 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Had anyone considered that the phone was made in China and reached the end of its productive life after two months?


20 posted on 02/11/2023 5:16:53 PM PST by anonsquared
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson