Byron Louis, Staff Writer
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is in Beijing this week for several days of discussions with senior Chinese officials, aiming to ease tensions between the U.S. and China ahead of the upcoming U.S. election.
Sullivan is meeting with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, and others from Tuesday to Thursday, as both nations face disagreements over issues such as the Middle East, Ukraine, Taiwan, the South China Sea, and trade.
Upon his arrival on Tuesday, Sullivan first engaged with Wang at a scenic resort outside Beijing, where they exchanged greetings in front of flags from both nations, set against a backdrop of Chinese landscapes.
Wang characterized U.S.-China relations as “critical” with global implications, noting they have experienced “twists and turns.” He expressed a desire for the relationship to progress towards stable, healthy, and sustainable development.
Before entering a private meeting, Sullivan indicated that they would discuss both common ground and differences that require careful management.
In the final months of his presidency, Biden has emphasized direct diplomacy to engage Chinese President Xi Jinping and mitigate tensions; Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic candidate in the upcoming election, is expected to adopt a similar approach.
However, many analysts supporting Republican candidate Donald Trump view this strategy as overly lenient in response to China’s more aggressive foreign policies.
