President Joe Biden’s recent meeting with China’s top diplomat, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, has drawn considerable attention and is being viewed as a crucial stepping stone toward a potential in-person summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, anticipated to take place next month. This encounter, which occurred in the midst of a series of high-level interactions between the United States and China, carries a weighty significance as both nations seek to navigate the complexities of their relationship during a period marked by international conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.
The White House issued a statement regarding the meeting, noting that President Biden had emphasized the critical importance of managing competition between the United States and China in a responsible manner while emphasizing the need to maintain open lines of communication. Furthermore, President Biden underscored the idea that both nations must collaborate to address global challenges, emphasizing the significance of international cooperation in addressing pressing issues.
The setting for this momentous meeting was the Roosevelt Room within the White House, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan were also present. This level of engagement underscores the gravity of the discussions taking place.
According to White House administration spokesman John Kirby, President Biden regarded this meeting as a positive development and a valuable opportunity to sustain the ongoing dialogue between the United States and China. This meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi was highly anticipated, particularly in light of Chinese President Xi’s prior meeting with Secretary of State Blinken in June, which set the stage for further high-level discussions.
However, the ultimate confirmation of whether President Xi will travel to San Francisco for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next month is still pending. President Biden, though, has expressed a willingness to hold a meeting with President Xi on the sidelines of the summit, suggesting that such a meeting is quite probable. In fact, there is strong confidence that the two leaders will reconvene to continue their discussions.
Wang Yi’s visit to Washington spans three days and involves meetings with several top U.S. officials, further highlighting the significance of these interactions. He had already held discussions with Secretary of State Blinken earlier during his visit. In a statement released by the Chinese side following their initial meeting, it was noted that both parties engaged in an in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations and issues of mutual concern, fostering a constructive atmosphere for dialogue.
The U.S. State Department, in its official communication, outlined that the discussions addressed both areas of difference and cooperation. Secretary Blinken reiterated the United States’ unwavering commitment to advocating for its interests, values, and those of its allies and partners in the international arena.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed China’s commitment to restoring the U.S.-China relationship to a trajectory characterized by health, stability, and sustainability at the earliest possible opportunity.
A key focus of these discussions has been the role China plays on the global stage. U.S. officials have been keen to impress upon their Chinese counterparts the significance of China assuming a more active role in international affairs, especially if it aspires to be recognized as a responsible major international player. Concerns have arisen in the U.S. regarding China’s support for Russia in the conflict in Ukraine and its relatively muted response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The U.S. has been vocal in urging China to utilize its influence to promote calm and stability, particularly in the Middle East, leveraging its relationships with various countries in the region, including its ties to Iran.
One significant area of contention between the United States and China pertains to advanced technology export controls and China’s assertive actions in the East and South China seas. Recent incidents, such as a Chinese fighter jet flying within an alarmingly close 10 feet of an American B-52 bomber over the South China Sea, have further escalated tensions. The Pentagon has also released footage of over 180 intercepts of U.S. warplanes by Chinese aircraft in the past two years, labeling this trend as a cause for concern.
The U.S. has reasserted its commitment to defend the Philippines in the event of an armed attack, highlighting the security pact between the two nations. This declaration was prompted by a recent incident in which Chinese vessels blocked and collided with two Filipino vessels near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.
China, in turn, has countered with its own video footage of encounters in the region, including an incident where it claimed that the USS Ralph Johnson abruptly maneuvered and crossed in front of a Chinese navy ship. According to Senior Col. Wu Qian, the spokesperson for the Chinese defense ministry, these videos illustrate that “the U.S. is the real provocateur, risk taker, and spoiler.” The Pentagon has rejected China’s characterization of the USS Ralph Johnson’s actions, stating that the video only included “cropped segments of a 90-minute interaction” and emphasizing that the ship operated in compliance with international law.
The issue of Taiwan, a self-governed island that China regards as an integral part of its territory, is another significant point of discussion. China has asserted its intent to reclaim Taiwan by force if necessary, while the United States, which has a security pact with Taiwan, opposes any use of force in this context.
While the prospect of President Biden and President Xi meeting next month on the sidelines of the APEC summit has not been officially confirmed, Wang Yi’s visit underscores the likelihood of such a meeting taking place. Scott Kennedy, a senior adviser and trustee chair in Chinese business and economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, suggests that Wang Yi’s visit is primarily aimed at setting the agenda and negotiating potential outcomes for the meeting.
It’s worth noting that the last time President Xi visited the United States was in 2017, when former President Donald Trump hosted him at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. President Biden, who assumed office in 2021, has not yet hosted President Xi on U.S. soil. The two leaders last met in November 2022, on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
The U.S.-China relationship began to deteriorate significantly in 2018 when the Trump administration imposed substantial tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods. This decline continued as disputes escalated on numerous fronts, including human rights concerns, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the Taiwan issue, technological rivalry, and the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These topics have continued to strain bilateral relations, making the outcome of these high-level meetings all the more significant.
