US President Joe Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, embarked on a two-day visit to Beijing, China, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, with the objective of calming tensions between the two superpowers. The meetings, scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday, involved high-level officials from both sides, including China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi.
The discussions come at a time when the US and China are at odds over several crucial issues, including the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, China’s territorial claims in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, and ongoing trade disputes.
Despite the disagreements, both sides expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue and manage differences effectively. “Over the past few years, bilateral relations have gone through twists and turns,” Wang acknowledged to reporters on Tuesday. Sullivan echoed this sentiment, stating, “We’ll delve into a wide range of issues, including issues on which we agree on and those issues where there are still differences that we need to manage effectively and substantively.”
Biden’s administration, especially in the lead-up to the US presidential election in November, has prioritized direct diplomacy with China to mitigate tensions. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, is expected to maintain a similar strategy. However, some analysts, aligned with former President Donald Trump, believe this approach is too conciliatory in the face of China’s increasingly assertive foreign policy.
The US aims to expand military-to-military talks to the theatre command level, hoping to prevent conflicts in specific regions like the Taiwan Strait. Additionally, the US seeks Chinese action to prevent the production of fentanyl precursors, a crucial step in combating the drug overdose crisis in the US. Another key objective is reaching an understanding on safety standards for artificial intelligence.
On China’s side, Beijing plans to express its disapproval of US tariffs on various manufactured goods and export controls targeting Chinese chipmakers. The Chinese delegation is also expected to reiterate their claims of sovereignty over Taiwan, which is governed democratically.
These talks represent a crucial step in managing the complex relationship between the US and China. The outcomes will likely have a significant impact on the global political landscape, especially as the US heads into an election year.
