24-10-2023 (BEIJING) China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, is scheduled to embark on a crucial visit to the United States later this week, according to senior Biden administration officials who made the announcement on Monday. This visit has been highly anticipated and takes place against a backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East, where U.S. officials are seeking China’s assistance in containment efforts.
Wang Yi is expected to visit Washington from October 26th to 28th, where he will hold meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan. However, it has not been confirmed whether Wang will have a meeting with President Biden during his visit.
This visit marks a significant development as it represents the highest-level, in-person engagement between the two nations in the lead-up to an anticipated meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which is slated to take place in San Francisco in November. It is also a long-awaited reciprocal visit, as earlier this year, several top U.S. officials, including Secretary Blinken, visited Beijing.
The primary focus of Washington remains on preventing the intensifying competition between the world’s two largest economies from escalating into conflicts, especially given their disagreements on a range of issues, including trade, Taiwan, and the South China Sea.
One official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity while briefing reporters about the trip, emphasized the significance of direct face-to-face diplomacy. This approach is seen as the most effective way to address challenging issues, clarify misunderstandings, and explore areas of common interest in the complex U.S.-China relationship.
The visit is also taking place at a critical juncture, with global attention focused on the October 7th attacks by Hamas and Israel’s response, as well as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine involving Russia. In response to these crises, the United States is providing military aid to both Israel and Ukraine, while China has moved closer to Russia during the Ukraine conflict and has called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
During Wang Yi’s visit, discussions will encompass both the Israel-Hamas conflict and the situation in Ukraine, with the United States seeking to encourage China to adopt a more constructive approach in both cases.
In addition, Washington has placed substantial importance on China’s ability to influence Iran’s actions. During Secretary Blinken’s recent visit to the Middle East, he had a phone call with Wang Yi, during which he urged China to use its influence in the region to prevent the further escalation of the conflict.
Territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas are also on the agenda for Wang’s visit, with U.S. officials expressing deep concerns about what they describe as China’s “destabilizing and dangerous actions” in the South China Sea.
On Monday, the Philippines, a U.S. ally, accused Chinese coastguard vessels of intentionally colliding with its vessels during a resupply mission, marking the most serious incident to date in the disputed waters around the Second Thomas Shoal.
Despite challenges, re-establishing military-to-military ties with China remains a top priority for the United States. Officials stressed the importance of sustained communication across various levels, even in light of China’s apparent lack of a defense minister. China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu has not been seen in public for nearly two months due to an ongoing corruption probe.
