China says it is up to US to take steps to resume high-level military talks

Bloomberg

China said it is up to the US to take steps towards resuming high-level military discussions that were suspended after Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, comments that hint at lingering tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
“If the US really wants to carry out positive and constructive dialogue and exchange with China, it must show sincerity and take
action,” Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said in Beijing, adding that Washington should “respect China’s core interests and major concerns.”
“The US side cannot seek to fully resume dialogue and
exchanges with China while constantly harming China’s interests,” Tan said in comments that come after US lawmakers stepped up support for Taiwan’s armed forces. China cut off talks with the US on military, climate and other issues after Pelosi became the first sitting House speaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years in August. Discussions on climate issues resumed in November after President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia.
Still, tensions remain over Taiwan, which Washington supports militarily and Beijing has pledged to bring under its control. China held its largest military drills near the democratically run island since the unprecedented exercises that followed Pelosi’s trip, a visit that had itself raised concern over conflict erupting.
The latest exercises — involving some 71 warplanes that the US criticised as “provocative” — were intended to signal China’s displeasure over US lawmakers agreeing to a $1.7 trillion spending bill that included
$2 billion in weapons funding for Taipei.
China’s Defense Ministry earlier blasted the US
National Defense Authorization Act, which permits up to
$10 billion in weapons sales to Taiwan, saying it interfered
in the Asian nation’s internal affairs. Tan renewed that criticism, saying “the US has continuously released a number of negative policy papers and bills related to China, wantonly trumpeting great power competition.”
This was “further undermining the foundation and atmosphere for communication and exchanges between the two militaries,” he added.