Chinese President Xi Jinping met U.S National Advisor Jake Sullivan on Thursday in Beijing. This is the last leg of talks during Sullivan’s visit to Beijing, before U.S. Elections in November.
The two sides discussed further implementation of the commitments made by Biden and Xi at the November 2023 Woodside Summit, Xi told Sullivan that Beijing was committed to a stable relationship with Washington.
“In this changing and turbulent world, countries need solidarity and coordination … not exclusion or regress,” Xi said.
Sullivan told Xi that Biden was committed to managing the relationship to avoid conflict and “looks forward to engaging with you in coming weeks”.
Sullivan’s visit covered a range of issues that have complicated the ties between the two countries. His in-tray included tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea and Russia. It also included the U.S.’ demand for more Chinese help to prevent the flow of ingredients for fentanyl. Fentanyl is the leading cause of drug overdose in the U.S.
Despite sometimes lengthy sessions, considerable gaps remain on some issues. This includes China’s actions against the Philippines over disputed shoals in the South China Sea, a U.S. official said.
Before meeting Xi, Sullivan also met Xi’s key military adviser Zhang Youxia and top diplomat Wang Yi.
With Zhang, Sullivan pushed for enhanced working-level communications between the countries’ militaries. This was the first meeting between Zhang and a Biden administration official.
Both referred to progress in military communications and arrangements for theatre-level commanders to speak. This has been the United States’s demand several times amid increased regional deployments.
The White House said Sullivan also emphasised the need for stability in the Taiwan Strait and freedom in the South China Sea. He also raised concerns about China’s support for Russia’s defence industrial base.
Zhang is believed to be close to Xi and is said to be more powerful than the defence minister.
‘CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS’
Wang and Sullivan also met on Wednesday. They discussed the prospect of fresh talks soon between Biden and Xi. They also shared contrasting perspectives on the Middle East and Ukraine, Taiwan, South China Sea, and trade.
The White House said the two held “candid, substantive, and constructive discussions”.
In the final leg of presidency, Biden has pushed to keep tensions at bay with China. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is likely to do the same.
However, many analysts aligned with Trump see that approach as too soft in the face of China’s increasingly assertive foreign policy.
