U.S.-China Diplomatic Talks: Key Issues on the Table

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is set to meet top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing to discuss critical issues including Taiwan, military cooperation, and the fentanyl crisis. The talks come amidst the U.S. presidential election campaign and aims to stabilize U.S.-China relations and prepare for a potential Biden-Xi meeting.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will meet with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in China next week to discuss a range of pivotal issues, such as Taiwan, U.S.-China military dialogue, and the U.S. fentanyl crisis, a senior U.S. administration official confirmed on Friday. From Aug. 27-29, the discussions will also cover China's support for Russia's defense industry, the South China Sea, North Korea, the Middle East, Myanmar, and artificial intelligence.

Sullivan's visit precedes the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election, where Democratic candidate Kamala Harris faces former President Donald Trump. As U.S.-China competition remains a key foreign policy issue, both nations have aimed to stabilize strained relations that hit a historic low after the U.S. downed a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon last year.

Axios reported that Sullivan and Yi will likely lay the groundwork for a possible meeting between President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping later this year. White House national security spokesman John Kirby has underscored that the U.S.-China relationship remains the most crucial bilateral relationship globally. Following the trip announcement, Washington imposed sanctions on over 400 entities and individuals supporting Russia's war effort in Ukraine, including Chinese firms.

Sullivan has held regular discussions with Wang, focusing on responsibly managing competition between the superpowers. The senior administration official highlighted that their last meeting in Bangkok in January touched on various issues, including resumption of military dialogues and counter-narcotics cooperation.

The upcoming visit aims to move beyond election concerns, focusing on significant topics like China's military pressure on Taiwan and the U.S. fentanyl crisis. Critics argue the Biden administration hasn't pressured Beijing enough over fentanyl-related substances, a leading cause of U.S. drug overdoses. Meanwhile, China insists the crisis is driven by U.S. demand. Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously met Wang and Xi in Beijing in April, but progress on contentious issues remains limited.

(With inputs from agencies.)