IRIA News

5 minute read

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan arrived in Beijing on August 27, 2024, on his first visit to China in his current role, to improve bilateral ties and discuss critical issues.

During his visit, Sullivan engaged in extensive talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, with discussions ranging from military communications to the potential for a future summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The visit, which comes just months before the U.S. presidential election, is part of a broader strategy by President Biden to manage one of his administration’s most consequential foreign policy challenges.

Sullivan’s meeting with Wang was marked by “candid, substantive, and constructive discussions,” according to the White House statement, addressing issues that have caused friction between the two nations.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held “substantive and constructive” talks in Beijing.

The goal of Sullivan’s visit is to continue China-US communication and avoid any crisis in the remaining months of the Biden administration. pic.twitter.com/zreN9ASAfC

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) August 28, 2024

Xi-Biden Talks

High on the agenda was the possibility of fresh talks between Biden and Xi, a move that both Washington and Beijing see as vital in preventing further escalation of tensions. This discussion takes place against sharp disagreements on several fronts, including trade policies, the Taiwan Strait, and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Following the talks between the top US and Chinese officials in Beijing, the White House said that Joe Biden and Xi Jinping will speak by telephone in “the coming weeks”.

Sullivan and Wang also agreed to arrange video calls between their military theater commanders, who are responsible for managing potential flashpoints in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to the Chinese readout of the meetings, these discussions aim to prevent conflict in critical areas like the Taiwan Strait. The White House confirmed that these military communications would occur in the “near future.”

Wang emphasized the importance of mutual respect in U.S.-China relations, stating, “The key to the smooth development of China-U.S. interaction lies in treating each other as equals.” He also urged the U.S. to cease arms sales to Taiwan and support the peaceful reunification of China, labeling “Taiwan independence” as the greatest threat to peace in the Taiwan Strait.

The new round of China-US strategic communication has begun! Today, Director Wang Yi and NSA @JakeSullivan46 met in Beijing. This is the 1st visit to China by an NSA after 8 years, and the 1st visit to China by NSA Sullivan.

Director Wang said China-US relations went through ups… pic.twitter.com/pM7siMILn1

— Xie Feng 谢锋 (@AmbXieFeng) August 27, 2024

In a further sign of the deep-seated disagreements, Wang expressed Beijing’s dissatisfaction with U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods and export controls on Chinese chipmakers. He called on Washington to “stop jeopardizing China’s legitimate interests.” Despite these points of contention, the U.S. and China identified some areas of potential cooperation, notably concerning shared concerns about North Korea, Burma, and the Middle East.

Xi Jinping holds surprise meeting with Biden aide in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a surprise meeting with senior Biden aide Jake Sullivan, who is on his first visit to Beijing, Chinese state media reported on August 29 afternoon.

“As two major countries, China and the United States should be responsible for history, for the people and for the world, and should be a source of stability for world peace and a propeller for common development,” Xi said. During their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Xi told Sullivan that he hoped the US would work with China “to find a right way for two major countries to get along with each other”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Beijing.

Both sides hoped to maintain open lines of communication.

Meeting came after Sullivan held talks with FM Wang Yi & Central Military Commission vice chairman Gen Zhang Youxia. pic.twitter.com/hOyfhKxqzl

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) August 29, 2024

Sullivan reportedly told Xi that Joe Biden was committed to managing the relationship to avoid conflict and “looks forward to engaging with you in coming weeks”.

Territorial Disputes

The talks also covered the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where Chinese vessels have frequently clashed with Philippine ships. China reiterated its stance that the U.S. “must not undermine China’s sovereignty … nor support the Philippines’ infringing acts.” The U.S., bound by a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, has vowed to defend its ally against armed attacks in the region.

In recent months, the Biden administration has prioritized direct diplomacy with Chinese counterparts to manage U.S.-China relations. This approach was evident in an April phone call between the leaders of the two countries, where they sought to navigate their countries’, differences following a period of deep division over trade and the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, this strategy faces criticism from some quarters, particularly among those aligned with Republican former President Donald Trump, who view it as overly conciliatory. Trump, the Republican presidential candidate for the upcoming election, has called for a more assertive U.S. policy toward China.

Another critical issue discussed during Sullivan’s visit was the U.S.’s call for China to take stronger action to prevent the production of chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl, a leading cause of drug overdoses in the United States. The two sides also explored establishing safety standards for artificial intelligence, an area of growing concern globally.

As Sullivan’s meetings continue through Thursday, the international community watches closely. The outcomes of these talks could significantly influence U.S.-China relations and global stability in the lead-up to the U.S. presidential election and beyond.