US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan touched down in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a series of high-stakes talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The visit, Sullivan’s first to China in his current role, is expected to focus on a range of contentious issues, including China’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base, its activities in the South China Sea, and its relationship with North Korea.
According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, Sullivan and Wang kicked off their discussions on Tuesday morning, engaging in a “new round of China-US strategic communication.” The talks are expected to continue through Thursday, with the two sides covering a broad range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.
Sullivan’s visit comes on the heels of a series of private meetings with Wang, including five encounters in the past year and a half. Despite these efforts, the US-China relationship remains strained, with China’s human rights record, intellectual property theft, and territorial expansion in the South China Sea continuing to pose significant challenges.
The White House has indicated that Sullivan’s talks with Wang will follow a similar format to their previous meetings, with the two sides engaging in marathon sessions lasting up to 12 hours. The discussions are expected to cover a range of topics, including China’s role in the international fentanyl trade, its activities in the Middle East, and its increasingly influential position in the global artificial intelligence landscape.
However, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has signaled that Wang will take a more assertive approach in the talks, emphasizing the need for the US to “correct” its understanding of China’s interests and concerns. A senior Foreign Ministry official warned that the US must respect China’s “red line” on Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory, and refrain from taking actions that undermine China’s “legitimate rights and interests.”
China’s state-run Global Times newspaper has also weighed in on the visit, insisting that the US needs to fundamentally change its perception of China and its strategic positioning towards the country. The outlet argued that Sullivan must “know how to listen” and truly understand Beijing’s concerns if he hopes to achieve meaningful progress in the talks.
As Sullivan navigates the complex and often contentious landscape of US-China relations, he will need to balance the competing demands of various stakeholders, including those in the US who are increasingly skeptical of China’s intentions and actions. With the US-China relationship at a critical juncture, Sullivan’s visit will be closely watched for signs of progress or regression in the two countries’ fraught relationship.
