Israel coordinated with the Biden administration before holding a high-level tech summit with China to avoid tensions with the U.S., two Israeli officials tell Axios.
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan visits Jerusalem in 2018. (Photo by Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty
To avoid tensions with Washington, Israel coordinated with the Biden administration in advance of a high-level tech and economy summit held virtually with Chinese officials on Monday, two Israeli officials tell Axios.Monday's summit, led by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, followed low-profile consultations on China last month between the U.S. and Israeli governments — a sensitive issue given U.S.
Many of these issues are at the center of the Biden administration's concerns. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have expressed concern in particular over Chinese investments in Israeli infrastructure projects.The Israeli Foreign Ministry notified the State Department of the gathering in advance “at a senior working level" and the U.S. didn't raise any concerns, an Israeli official told Axios.
Both Israeli officials stressed they were cognizant of U.S. concerns and wanted to proceed with maximum transparency. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.On Dec. 14, Israeli and U.S. teams led by the deputy national security advisers from both sides held wide-ranging talks on China policy. A week later, national security adviser Jake Sullivan raised some of the same issues with Lapid and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett while visiting Israel.
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