Top Chinese and U.S. officials recently discussed the possibility of upcoming talks between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, as part of high-level meetings in Beijing. The dialogue was marked by extensive discussions between China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, and U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. These talks come amidst sharp disagreements between the two nations and the approach of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
During these meetings, both nations agreed to schedule video calls between their military theater commanders, who are responsible for critical areas in the Indo-Pacific region, at a suitable time. This initiative, as noted in the Chinese meeting summary, aims to avert conflicts in sensitive zones like the Taiwan Strait. The White House confirmed that these military discussions would occur soon.
“The key to the smooth development of China-U.S. interaction lies in treating each other as equals,” Wang Yi stated to Sullivan, emphasizing the importance of parity in bilateral relations.
“The two sides held candid, substantive, and constructive discussions on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues,” the White House reported. These talks are part of ongoing efforts to ease tensions ahead of the U.S. elections on November 5.
The discussions, which are set to continue until Thursday, cover various contentious topics, including trade, the Middle East, the conflict in Ukraine, and Chinese territorial claims from Taiwan to the South China Sea.
In his conversation with Sullivan, Wang Yi urged the U.S. to cease arms sales to Taiwan and support China’s vision for a peaceful ‘reunification.’ He asserted, “Taiwan belongs to China and that ‘Taiwan independence’ is the biggest risk to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” Wang also voiced China’s objections to U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods and export controls on Chinese chipmakers, calling for an end to policies that threaten China’s legitimate interests.