China and the United States have been holding increasingly frequent talks between senior officials, covering various fields such as diplomacy, finance, trade, climate change, and potential military discussions in the future. However, Chinese experts have emphasized the need for concrete actions from the US to stabilize bilateral ties and pave the way for another China-US summit later this year.
On Thursday, Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the sidelines of ASEAN foreign ministers’ meetings. Their meeting followed a previous encounter on June 19 in Beijing, where Wang cautioned that China-US relations were at a low point due to US misperceptions toward China and misguided policies.
Furthermore, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce expressed openness to and welcomed a visit from US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, with ongoing communication between the two nations regarding the matter. Experts believe that Raimondo’s visit will be instrumental in assessing the potential for easing trade tensions between the two countries.
In the realm of climate change, it was announced that US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry would visit China from July 16 to 19, as agreed upon by both countries.
Additionally, discussions between the Chinese and US militaries have also been explored, with Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng meeting with US Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner in Washington. Xie urged the US to take concrete actions to remove obstacles and manage differences, particularly regarding sensitive issues such as the Taiwan question, in order to realign state-to-state and military-to-military relations.
Experts have noted that China has demonstrated its sincerity by engaging in talks despite the US’s failure to rectify previous mistakes that have damaged bilateral relations. The Biden administration’s eagerness for talks with China stems from its desire to manage and stabilize deteriorating ties, as extreme incidents or direct conflicts between the two countries would hinder President Biden’s chances of reelection.
The upcoming APEC leaders meeting, scheduled to be held in November, provides an opportunity for Biden to hold a summit with President Xi Jinping, potentially taking place on the sidelines of the G20 summit in India in September. US senior officials’ visits to China are seen as preparations for such a summit and a chance for Biden to showcase his ability to handle complex ties with China.
China also seeks to stabilize relations with the US, ensuring that tensions do not escalate uncontrollably, especially during the presidential elections when China-US ties often face challenges. Therefore, China aims to improve ties as much as possible before uncertainties arise in 2024.
While China has shown willingness to engage in talks, Chinese analysts caution that productive outcomes require more than just frequent meetings and positive rhetoric. The US must implement what it commits to in order to stabilize bilateral ties. However, there are concerns that internal forces in the US may seek to disrupt efforts to reduce tensions.
To gauge the extent of progress in stabilizing China-US ties, experts view Raimondo’s visit as crucial. The Biden administration must demonstrate sincerity in various areas, including military ties by removing sanctions and provocative activities, and economic and trade ties by lifting additional tariffs and ending unfair suppression of China’s technological development.
Reciprocity in China-US interactions is vital, and without concrete actions, the conditions for another China-US summit may not be met.