Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit the United States this week, as both countries seek to mend strained relations amidst escalating geopolitical tensions. The visit comes as the US endeavors to avoid conflicts with China and find common ground on mutual concerns.
During his visit, Wang will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan. This visit follows Blinken’s trip to Beijing in June, which aimed to lay the groundwork for better relations between the two nations.
The discussions between Wang and US officials are expected to cover a wide range of topics, including the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the war in Ukraine, and the escalating tensions in the South China Sea. Both countries have played different roles in these conflicts, with the US providing military aid to Israel and Ukraine, while China has grown closer to Russia and called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
US officials hope to encourage the Chinese government to adopt a more constructive approach to these global crises. Face-to-face diplomacy is seen as the most effective way to address misperceptions and miscommunications and find areas of cooperation where interests overlap.
One key issue that Washington attaches great importance to is China’s ability to influence Iran. During Blinken’s recent visit to the Middle East, he urged Wang to use Beijing’s influence to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from further escalating.
Wang’s upcoming visit takes place just a few weeks before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, where a meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping is anticipated. However, no official confirmation of this meeting has been given yet.
US-China relations have deteriorated since 2018, with various factors contributing to the tensions, including trade disputes, the situation in Xinjiang, the militarization of the South China Sea, pressure on Taiwan, and disagreements about the origins of COVID-19. US officials have expressed deep concerns about China’s destabilizing and dangerous actions in the South China Sea and emphasized the need to resolve territorial disputes.
Reestablishing military-to-military ties with China is also a top priority for the US. Consistent communication at all levels is considered crucial to preventing misunderstandings and maintaining stability in the region.
As Wang prepares to visit the US, both countries are hopeful of finding common ground and building a more stable and cooperative relationship in a complex and rapidly changing global landscape.
