Top US and Chinese officials have discussed the possibility of talks between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in the coming months as the two countries seek to stabilise communication in their increasingly contentious relationship.
Xi and Biden talks
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is wrapping up three days of talks with counterparts in Beijing, where he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission – the first meeting between a US official and a Chinese military figure in that role since 2018. Zhang Youxia, the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, told Sullivan in opening remarks:
“Your request to meet with me shows the value you attach to military security and the relationship between our militaries.”
Sullivan noted that “we rarely have the opportunity to have such an exchange of views” and emphasised “the need for responsible management of the US-China relationship.”
Sullivan is on the final day of a three-day trip to China, his first trip as national security adviser, aimed at maintaining high-level contacts and stabilising bilateral relations to avoid conflict. Over the past day and a half, he held key talks with Wang Yi, foreign minister and the ruling Communist Party’s top foreign policy official.
The White House statement said the two sides would keep lines of communication open, including planning a “leaders-level call” in the coming weeks. There was no indication whether the two leaders might meet in person before Biden leaves the Oval Office.
Taiwan issue
Wang emphasised that Taiwan belongs to Beijing and that China “will definitely be united.” He told Sullivan that the US should “put into practice its commitment not to support Taiwan’s independence” and stop arming Taiwan.
The White House said Sullivan “emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
Sullivan, making his first such trip in his post since 2016, previously met with Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing, which was expected to smooth relations. But after their meeting, state media reported that Wang warned Washington against supporting the Philippines in the South China Sea. Wang told Sullivan:
“The United States must not use bilateral treaties as an excuse to undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor should it support or condone the Philippines’ actions of infringement.”
Sullivan doubled down on Washington’s pledge to protect its regional partners. A White House report on their meeting said:
“Mr. Sullivan reaffirmed the United States‘ commitment to protecting its Indo-Pacific allies.”
Sullivan also “expressed concern over the PRC’s destabilising actions against the Philippines” legitimate maritime operations in the South China Sea,” the report said, which uses the acronym for the People’s Republic of China.
Wang emphasised to Sullivan that “China is firmly committed to defending its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights to islands in the South China Sea.”
Airspace violations and other subjects
Tokyo, meanwhile, accused Beijing of violating its airspace on Monday when a surveillance plane intruded for two minutes near the Danzho Islands in the East China Sea. Tokyo said the first confirmed incursion of a Chinese military aircraft into its airspace was a “serious violation” of its sovereignty and accused Beijing of “increasing activity.”
Sullivan and Wang have met five times in the past year and a half – in Washington, Vienna, Malta and Bangkok, and together with Biden and Xi at the November 2023 summit in California.
US and Chinese officials also discussed issues including Ukraine, the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula, according to both sides.
