U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov met in Vienna yesterday for their first meeting on the future of U.S.-Russian arms control, around which Billingslea pulled a stunt regarding the absence of China. “China is a no-show,” Billingslea tweeted before the meeting. “Beijing still hiding behind #GreatWallofSecrecy on its crash nuclear buildup, and so many other things.” The tweet included a photo of empty chairs with Chinese flags, which had been clearly staged for the purpose of the jab. It made a mockery of the idea of negotiations.
Fu Cong, the head of the arms control department at China’s foreign ministry responded to the incident, tweeting “What an odd scene! Displaying Chinese National Flags on a negotiating table without China’s consent!” Further, “Good luck on the extension of New START! Wonder how LOW you can go?” China’s Permanent MIssion in Vienna added: “US’ performance art?”
“It is unserious, unprofessional and unappealing for the US to try getting people’s eyes in this way,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian when asked about Billingslea’ tweet during today‛s regular Foreign Ministry briefing. “We urge the US to stop playing such dull tricks, earnestly respond to Russia’s call of extending the New START, and have serious, sincere talks on this. I think this also serves the common aspiration of the international community.”
