BEIJING – US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, is engaging in several days of talks with top Chinese officials in Beijing from August 27 to 29. The meetings are part of an effort to ease tensions between the US and China ahead of the upcoming US election on November 5.
Sullivan’s discussions with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, and other senior Chinese officials are taking place against the backdrop of multiple areas of contention, including disputes over Taiwan, the South China Sea, trade, and the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
The talks, which began at a lush resort on the northern outskirts of Beijing, are seen as crucial for stabilizing the strained relationship between the world’s two largest economies. In front of journalists, Wang Yi emphasized the importance of US-China ties, describing them as “critical” for global stability, while noting the need for a stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations.
Sullivan echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of managing areas of both agreement and disagreement effectively and substantively before proceeding into a closed-door meeting with Wang.
The Biden administration has been keen on using direct diplomacy with Chinese President Xi Jinping as a way to mitigate tensions. Sullivan’s trip follows this approach, and he is seeking to expand military talks to include theatre-command levels in hopes of preventing conflict in sensitive regions like the Taiwan Strait. The US is also pushing for China to take stronger action in controlling chemicals used to produce fentanyl and is looking for a cooperative understanding on safety standards for artificial intelligence.
For its part, China is expected to express serious concerns over issues such as US tariffs, export controls, and sovereignty claims over Taiwan. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has emphasized its disapproval of US actions, which it claims have undermined China’s legitimate rights and interests.
Sullivan’s visit to Beijing is the first by a US national security adviser since 2016. Both sides will also be keeping a close eye on the ongoing Gaza conflict and its potential for escalating into a broader regional crisis.
This round of talks could pave the way for a potential meeting between President Biden and President Xi during upcoming international summits in November, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in Peru or the Group of 20 summit in Brazil.