Biden Sends Sullivan to China Amidst Ongoing Global Tensions

President Joe Biden will send his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, to China next week to address the intricate US-China relationship. Sullivan will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss pressing issues including China's support for Russia, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and bilateral cooperation on fentanyl and AI.

President Joe Biden is dispatching his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, to China next week as the White House grapples with the complex US-China relationship in the Democrat's final months in office.

Sullivan's three-day meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, set to begin Tuesday, will address US concerns about China's backing of Russia's military-industrial complex during the ongoing Ukraine war, Chinese military activity in the South China Sea, North Korean provocations, the Israel-Hamas war, and Taiwan tensions.

The Chinese side is expected to raise issues regarding American tariffs, especially as China attempts economic recovery post-COVID-19. In May, Biden imposed new tariffs on several Chinese sectors including electric vehicles and medical equipment.

Sullivan and Wang will also discuss cooperation on stemming the flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl production, maintaining bilateral communication, and advancements in artificial intelligence.

"These meetings are a result of the November 2023 Woodside Summit between President Biden and President Xi (Jinping)," stated Sean Savett, White House National Security Council spokesman, highlighting the effort to maintain strategic communication and responsibly manage the relationship.

This visit marks Sullivan's first to China as national security adviser and follows multiple meetings between US and Chinese officials over the course of Biden's administration. The last national security adviser to visit China was Susan Rice in 2016.

John Kirby, White House national security spokesman, noted that the visit was planned during the Biden-Xi summit last year and had been in the works for months.

The announcement coincides with Biden's vacation in California's Santa Ynez Valley, where he is preparing his policy priorities for the remaining months of his presidency.

A senior official indicated that the summit is not expected to yield major announcements, focusing instead on maintaining communication and finding constructive avenues for cooperation despite ongoing competition.

Sullivan's high-level visit could pave the way for another face-to-face meeting between Biden and Xi, following last November's summit in California, which resulted in modest agreements on combating illegal fentanyl and military communications. However, significant differences on economic competition and global security remain.

The visit occurs as candidates for the 2024 presidential election, including Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump, promise stringent China policies.

(With inputs from agencies.)