China’s foreign minister Wang Yi and United States national security adviser Jake Sullivan met in Malta over the weekend to smooth strained relations and clear a path for a potential meeting of their respective presidents – Joe Biden and Xi Jinping – scheduled for November this year.
Both sides described the diplomatic effort as “candid, substantive, and constructive.”
The White House issued a statement on September 17 outlining the discussions and outcomes, including an agreement to maintain high-level exchanges and engage in bilateral consultations on various critical matters, such as Asia-Pacific affairs, maritime issues, and foreign policy. Significantly, there were indications of potential progress in restoring military communications between the two nations, which had been severed after a controversial visit to Taiwan by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August 2022.
The statement further framed the Sullivan-Wang meeting as part of “ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage the relationship.” It underscored the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, a point noted by Sullivan during the discussions. Conversely, Wang cautioned the US that Taiwan represents the “first insurmountable red line of Sino-US relations” and emphasized China’s unwavering commitment to development and the rights of the Chinese people.
A senior official within the Biden administration shared with Reuters that there were “limited” signs suggesting Beijing’s readiness to reopen some channels of cross-military communication, which are essential for de-escalating potential conflicts.
The diplomatic dialogue in Malta marked the first direct talks between Wang and Sullivan since May, following a tense incident when American fighter jets intercepted a Chinese-operated balloon off the US coast, an event China strongly condemned as a “serious violation of international practice.”
The repercussions of this incident were substantial, leading to the cancellation of a planned visit to Beijing by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The deterioration in US-China relations has been exacerbated by factors like American support for Taiwan, trade disputes involving intellectual property rights, and China’s military advancements, particularly in the realm of hypersonic missile technology, an area where the US currently lacks parity.
The much-anticipated meeting between Presidents Biden and Xi at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in San Francisco this November had been cast into doubt by these escalating tensions. China’s top security agency had hinted that the meeting would hinge on the US demonstrating “sufficient sincerity.” Biden and Xi have not met since November 2022 when they held a lengthy sideline discussion at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.
After their G20 encounter, President Biden emphasized the need for vigorous competition with China while asserting that he was “not seeking conflict,” a sentiment echoed by President Xi, who stressed the importance of finding the “right way to get along.” However, Xi’s absence at the recent G20 summit in New Delhi, India, raised concerns, prompting Biden to express disappointment but remain hopeful for future interactions.