Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to travel to the United States later this week in a bid to mend the strained ties between the two nations amid growing geopolitical crises.
Wang’s visit to Washington is scheduled for October 26-28, where he will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan.
This visit comes after Blinken and other top US officials traveled to Beijing in June as part of an ongoing effort to repair the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
The United States is keen on ensuring that their disagreements with China do not escalate into conflicts and that both nations can collaborate on issues of mutual concern.
Other US politicians have also traveled to China since Blinken’s visit, with California Governor Gavin Newsom currently in the country to discuss climate change.
One official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, emphasized the significance of direct face-to-face diplomacy in addressing challenging issues, clearing up misperceptions and miscommunications, and exploring opportunities for cooperation where interests align.
The upcoming meetings between Wang and US officials are likely to cover various pressing international matters, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, the ongoing Ukraine war, and the escalating tensions in the South China Sea. T
he United States is currently providing military aid to Israel and Ukraine, while China has strengthened ties with Russia in the wake of the Ukraine conflict. Beijing has also called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
A second official stated that the US would push China to adopt a more constructive approach on both the Israel-Hamas conflict and the Ukraine situation.
Hopes for a Xi-Biden Meeting
Foreign Minister Wang Yi held phone calls with the foreign ministers of Israel and the Palestinian Authority on Monday and expressed his sadness regarding civilian suffering due to the conflict. He reiterated China’s calls for a ceasefire and its support for a two-state solution.
The United States has placed significant importance on China’s ability to influence Iran. During his recent visit to the Middle East, Secretary of State Blinken held a phone call with Wang, urging him to use Beijing’s influence to prevent the conflict from escalating.
Wang’s visit takes place approximately three weeks ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, where there are expectations that President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping might meet.
US officials did not confirm the leaders’ meeting during Wang’s visit and did not specify if it would prepare for such an encounter. Instead, Wang’s trip was described as reciprocal to Blinken’s visit to Beijing.
As of now, Beijing has not confirmed whether President Xi will travel to San Francisco for the annual APEC summit.
Strained Relations
US-China relations have been deteriorating since 2018 over various issues, including trade disputes, the situation in Xinjiang, the militarization of the South China Sea, growing pressure on Taiwan, and debates over the origins of COVID-19.
Biden and Xi last met in November 2022 on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meeting in Indonesia. During that meeting, they agreed to resume talks, set up workgroups to address specific issues, and expand person-to-person exchanges.
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US officials stated that territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas are also likely to be on the agenda during Wang’s visit. They expressed deep concerns about China’s “destabilizing and dangerous actions” in the South China Sea. Recently, the Philippines, a key US ally, accused Chinese coastguard vessels of “intentionally” colliding with its vessels in the South China Sea, near Second Thomas Shoal, marking a significant incident this year. China claims the shoal as its territory, although it falls within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Re-establishing military-to-military ties with China remains a top concern for the United States. Officials stressed the need for sustained communication throughout the ranks. Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who has not appeared in public for nearly two months amid a corruption probe, had previously rejected US requests for a meeting. He had been targeted with US sanctions in 2018 over Russian weapons purchases.
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