National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan to Visit China Next Week for Key Meetings
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is set to visit China next week from August 27-29 for discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Axios reports, citing sources familiar with the upcoming meetings.
The visit is deemed important as Sullivan and Wang are expected to lay the groundwork for a potential meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year. This meeting would serve as a follow-up to their discussions during the California summit in November 2022.
Following his withdrawal from the presidential race, Biden said he would focus more on foreign policy and international travel. Both leaders are expected to attend the G-20 leaders’ summit in Brazil after the US elections in November, making the timing of Sullivan’s visit critical in reinforcing diplomatic ties.
The backdrop of this high-level engagement comes as the United States enters the final stretch of a presidential campaign, with both parties holding a tough stance on China, particularly concerning tariffs.
Vice President Kamala Harris has closely aligned with Biden’s policies on China in internal debates within the administration. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has positioned himself as an adversary to China, proposing sweeping measures such as a 60% tariff on all Chinese imports.
Biden’s foreign policy has sought to balance competition with China while aiming to establish a stable bilateral relationship. Relations have been strained in recent years, notably following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022 and the sighting of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the US earlier this year.
In an effort to mend ties, Biden and Xi met in California last November, where they agreed to restart a military communication hotline and collaborate on issues such as curbing fentanyl production.
Throughout Biden’s presidency, Sullivan has been actively engaging with Chinese officials across various global venues, including Rome, Luxembourg, Vienna, and Bangkok, to address multiple issues ranging from military relations to China’s influence in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.
In a related diplomatic effort, an economic delegation led by Brent Neiman, the Treasury Department’s Assistant Secretary for International Finance, visited Beijing earlier this month to discuss financial stability and global economic growth. Additionally, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has been instrumental in establishing working groups aimed at enhancing economic communication and collaboration between the two nations.
