China and the U.S. are working on scheduling a call between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping in the coming weeks, the White House announced. This announcement came after National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.
Sullivan’s visit, his first as National Security Advisor, was focused on maintaining open communication channels and stabilizing relations between the two countries. The White House noted that both nations are committed to staying in touch, with a high-level call planned soon.
There was no indication of a potential face-to-face meeting between the two leaders before President Biden’s term ends. Additionally, both sides are preparing for a phone call between military theater commanders in the near future.
China’s military expansion has raised concerns, particularly over Taiwan and the South China Sea. During the meeting, Wang Yi emphasized that Taiwan’s push for independence poses a serious threat to regional stability. He called on the U.S. to stop supplying arms to Taiwan and support China’s peaceful reunification efforts.
Taiwan, a self-governing democracy since it separated from China in 1949, has firmly rejected China’s demands for reunification, whether through peaceful means or force. The U.S. remains committed to providing Taiwan with the necessary defense capabilities to deter any potential invasion.
Sullivan reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Beijing also warned the U.S. against supporting the Philippines in disputes over territories in the South China Sea, where tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated.
The U.S. military has opposed China’s claims over nearly the entire South China Sea and has expressed openness to discussions about providing security for Philippine ships in the disputed waters, especially given the recent rise in conflicts.
Sullivan emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to defending its allies in the Indo-Pacific region and voiced concerns about China’s destabilizing actions against legitimate Philippine maritime operations.
The Philippines has called for more involvement from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a group that includes the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, who also have competing claims in the South China Sea.
The Biden administration has shifted U.S. policy toward China from engagement to competition, aiming to prevent this rivalry from escalating. However, the U.S. still seeks cooperation with China on important global issues like climate change, artificial intelligence, and the fight against illegal drugs.
John Podesta, President Biden’s senior advisor on international climate policy, is scheduled to travel to China. During Sullivan’s meeting with Wang Yi, they also discussed measures to reduce the flow of illegal synthetic drugs and continue the repatriation of undocumented migrants.
The U.S. Border Patrol reported 1,851 arrests of Chinese migrants at the Mexico border in July, a decrease from the peak of 5,951 arrests in December.
Both nations also agreed to hold further discussions on artificial intelligence, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
Sullivan expressed ongoing concerns about China’s trade policies and economic practices, which often diverge from market-based principles. Wang Yi urged the U.S. to stop what he described as suppression of China in trade, economics, and technology, warning that protectionism could harm global economic growth and environmental progress.