Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Adviser, has made his first visit to China, where he will hold talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi as the two countries work to stabilize their relations. This visit, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, shows that China remains a top priority for the Biden administration, even as President Biden approaches the final months of his term.
Sullivan and Wang have met four times over the past 16 months in various locations, including Vienna, Malta, Washington, and Bangkok. Their last meeting in January followed a high-stakes summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden, aimed at resetting strained relations.
Speculations suggest that there might be another presidential summit in the pipeline. Though the White House is very cautious in saying that Sullivan’s trip cannot be related to the impending U.S. presidential election, the timing hints at the fact that if Sullivan can make way for the final Biden-Xi summit, it would become one of the most momentous moments in Biden’s foreign policy.
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Meeting Highlights
The fact that they are talking to top advisors at the National Security Council, the Department of State, and Treasury is the very nature that these talks are comprehensive, touching issues of ongoing trade negotiations, supply chain matters, human rights concerns, and regional security dynamics, and there is a plan by the administration to actually come out with a clear strategy for the U.S.-China relationship that really takes both economic and security considerations together.
The importance of having direct communication with Xi Jinping was also highlighted during the meeting. Biden’s team is working to set up the summit or high-level contact with the Chinese leader that would promote clearer channels and avoid misunderstandings.
In a broader sense, this meeting reflects the administration’s recognition of China’s immense influence on global affairs and the need for a well-calibrated approach. China is still a central factor in shaping the global landscape as the U.S. continues to pursue its strategic priorities.
As President Biden’s administration continues, China and Xi Jinping are going to remain integral parts of U.S. foreign policy, focusing on balancing competition with cooperation in a fast-changing international environment.
A Critical Juncture from Beijing’s Perspective
There has never been an easy U.S.-Chinese diplomat meeting and this one is not too. While the Biden administration has been talking of going the diplomatic way, they have not rolled back those tariffs introduced by Trump while even adding new ones on Chinese-made electric cars, solar panels, and steel.
Biden has also built up alliances across Asia to contain the growing influence of China and increased U.S. military presence in the region, which Beijing views as threats. Harris’s campaign hasn’t spoken much on how it intends to deal with the relationship with China. The White House has been clear that the visit by Sullivan is designed to continue the work of the Biden administration and not set the tone for the next president, but China is likely looking ahead.
Washington’s Perspective: Stealth Over Bravado
When Biden took office, he sought to stabilize U.S.-China relations after the turmoil and unpredictability of the Trump administration. His administration attempted to “responsibly manage” the rivalry with Beijing, showing American power and competition with China through subtlety rather than bravado. However, these events have tested this approach.
Last year, tensions ran high after an American fighter jet shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over U.S. territory. And the situation has become more complicated by the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
In April, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken went to Beijing with a warning that the U.S. would act if China did not stop supplying Russia with microchips and machine parts used in weapons for the war in Ukraine. According to Blinken, China was “helping to fuel the biggest threat” to European security since the Cold War.
The Goal: Stable Relations
Last year’s summit between Biden and Xi in San Francisco was aimed to be a move toward bettering these issues. For all the tariffs and fierce rhetoric, Washington and Beijing have at least admitted the existence of their differences. The reports of a prospective deal on curbing production are a good sign for a deal.
Visits that Blinken made to Shanghai and Beijing in April appeared public, and therefore tenser, in reflecting an exercise in diplomatic muscle in front of a domestic audience. This is likely true for Sullivan’s trip: he will look to position Biden’s diplomacy positively while there are still a couple of months left in Biden’s presidency.
However, these meetings also serve a crucial purpose: providing face-to-face time between two rival, interdependent economies as they navigate mutual distrust and try to understand each other’s true intentions. Sullivan’s previous meetings with Wang Yi have quietly laid the groundwork for what both sides refer to as “stable relations.
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