White House National Security Adviser Meets with Top Chinese Diplomat in Malta amid Political Turmoil in Beijing
In an effort to maintain open lines of communication between the United States and China, the White House announced on Sunday that its national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, met with Wang Yi, the Communist Party’s top foreign policy official and China’s foreign minister. The meeting took place over the weekend in Malta, and the discussions centered around the relations between the two countries, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the tensions between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan.
During the meeting, Sullivan reiterated American concerns about recent Chinese military actions around Taiwan and other coercive activities. He emphasized the importance of resolving any disputes or conflicts peacefully and expressed the U.S.’s opposition to China aiding Russia in its war on Ukraine. This comes after the U.S. intelligence assessment revealed that China had been considering sending weapons to President Vladimir V. Putin, a move that sparked concerns from U.S. officials.
On the Chinese side, Wang stressed that the Taiwan issue was a “red line” for China, aligning with long-standing Chinese views. The officials also discussed matters related to the Asia-Pacific region, the Korean Peninsula, and Ukraine, as well as measures for “personnel exchanges” between the two nations.
The White House summary of the talks stated that Sullivan and Wang agreed to pursue additional high-level engagement and consultations in key areas. This comes as U.S. officials have been working towards setting up a meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of an international summit in San Francisco in November. However, recent political purges in Beijing have cast doubt on the feasibility of such a meeting.
Questions arise surrounding the recent purges within the top levels of the Chinese government and the Communist Party. Last week, it was revealed that Gen. Li Shangfu, the Chinese defense minister, had been placed under investigation for corruption, while in July, Qin Gang, the former foreign minister, was abruptly ousted by Mr. Xi. These developments have prompted U.S. intelligence agencies to intensify their efforts to gain insights into the ongoing conflicts within the Chinese leadership.
President Biden has been striving to establish stability in U.S.-China relations since the early spy balloon crisis this year. Several top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, John Kerry, the special climate envoy, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, have engaged in high-level diplomacy with their Chinese counterparts.
Despite initial hopes for more cabinet-level visits between the two countries, U.S. officials now anticipate a potential fall meeting between Biden and Xi. However, the Chinese government often delays giving a final agreement for an important diplomatic meeting until the last minute, leveraging its power over the situation.
While grappling with internal political challenges and a slowing economy, Xi faces growing discontent among Chinese citizens in elite circles. Criticism has emerged concerning his recent policies and his unwavering promotion of party ideology and personal status within party history.
As the United States and China navigate these complex issues and uncertainties, efforts to maintain communication and engage in meaningful dialogue remain crucial to fostering stability and understanding between the two nations.