US Aims to Find Common Ground with China as Top Diplomat Visits Washington
In an effort to establish common ground amidst ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, the United States is seeking to engage with China as its top diplomat, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, arrives in Washington this week. Over the course of three days of meetings, senior officials of the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, are expected to emphasize the importance of China assuming a more responsible role globally if it wishes to be considered a major international player.
The meetings will likely address China’s involvement in the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, with the potential for a summit between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month in San Francisco. The US has expressed disappointment with China’s support for Russia in the Ukraine war and its limited response to developments in the Middle East. Furthermore, the two nations remain at odds on numerous issues such as human rights, climate change, Taiwan, the South China Sea, and North Korea.
Despite these differences, both sides have expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue. After a low point in relations earlier this year, when Blinken canceled a planned visit to China, interactions between high-level officials have increased. Blinken subsequently rescheduled his trip in June, and other officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, climate envoy John Kerry, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, have visited China as well.
The ultimate goal of these engagements, according to US officials, is to lay a foundation for a future Biden-Xi summit where the leaders can explore cooperation and potentially ease tensions on pressing global issues. Experts view Wang Yi’s visit to Washington as a crucial step in setting the agenda for the upcoming summit in November, where the two leaders could aim to limit the escalation of violence in Ukraine and the Middle East.
While some potential outcomes of the visit include increased direct flights and visas between the two countries, as well as agreements on climate change and military dialogue, experts believe that significant agreements may be challenging to reach. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has stated that Wang Yi will engage in detailed discussions on a wide range of issues and express China’s position and concerns regarding bilateral relations.
President Xi Jinping’s visit to the US will mark his first since President Biden took office. The two leaders last met in person in November 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. Officials and activities leading up to Xi’s visit, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom’s meeting with Xi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer‘s visit to China earlier this month, indicate preparations for the summit. The US-China relationship has gradually deteriorated in recent years due to disputes over trade, human rights, technology, and territorial claims in the South China Sea.
As discussions between the US and China continue, both nations seek to navigate their differences and find common ground on critical global issues. The meetings between Wang Yi and top US officials aim to lay the groundwork for the Biden-Xi summit, where leaders can potentially stabilize bilateral ties. The outcome of these engagements will have far-reaching implications for the future relationship between the world’s two largest powers.
