Biden Says US-China Relations Set to Improve ‘Very Shortly’

US president says ‘silly balloon’ derailed ties with China
Biden considering lifting sanctions on China defense minister

WATCH: The G-7 summit in Japan has shown that the US and its allies need to do more to win over global swing nations also courted by China and Russia. Source: Bloomberg

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By Jenny Leonard and Annmarie Hordern

May 21, 2023 at 10:39 AM UTC

Updated on

May 21, 2023 at 10:21 PM UTC

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US President Joe Biden said he expected ties with China to improve “very shortly” after a spat over an alleged spy balloon earlier this year derailed relations.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday at the end of the Group of Seven summit in Japan, Biden said the US’s move to shoot down a “silly balloon that was carrying two freight cars worth of spying equipment” changed the dynamic after his meeting with President Xi Jinping in November last year.