White House: Biden and Xi to Plan Call in Coming Weeks

Beijing and Washington are setting up a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, following a meeting between National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.

This marked Sullivan’s first trip to China in his role as national security advisor. His objective was to maintain high-level communication and stabilize the ongoing complex relationship between the two nations to help prevent conflict.

According to the White House, both nations agreed to keep their channels of communication open, with plans for a “leader-level call” in the upcoming weeks.

There was, however, no indication that Biden and Xi would meet in person before Biden’s term ends.

The White House also mentioned an upcoming military theater commander phone call, highlighting the importance of military communication amid rising tensions.

China’s military expansion is seen as a point of concern, especially regarding potential conflicts over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Wang Yi pointed out to Sullivan that Taiwan’s pursuit of independence is the most significant threat to regional stability. He urged the U.S. to cease its military support for Taiwan and to back China’s efforts for peaceful unification, as indicated in statements from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Since breaking away from authoritarian China in 1949, Taiwan has positioned itself as a self-governing democratic entity. It has resisted the Chinese government’s demands that it unify with the mainland, whether through peaceful means or force. The U.S. is committed by law to provide Taiwan with enough military equipment and technology to deter attacks.

The White House confirmed that Sullivan highlighted the necessity of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Additionally, Beijing cautioned Washington against backing the Philippines, particularly concerning disputes over Chinese rights in the South China Sea. Recent tensions have arisen between China and the Philippines, especially around the Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal.

The U.S. military has been vocal about contesting China’s claim over most of the South China Sea. Recently, it expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue regarding the escorting of Philippine vessels in the contested waters, amid increasing friction between Beijing and Manila.

The White House reiterated Sullivan’s commitment to defending Indo-Pacific allies, while also voicing concerns over China’s disruptive actions against legitimate Philippine maritime operations.

The Philippines has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a stronger stance on regional maritime disputes. The ten-member ASEAN bloc comprises nations with overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea, including Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, as well as China and Taiwan.

Shifting its strategy, the U.S. has moved towards viewing its relationship with China as one of competition rather than engagement. The Biden administration aims to contain this competition while exploring areas where collaboration with China is possible, like climate change, artificial intelligence, and the crackdown on illegal drugs.

John Podesta, a senior advisor on international climate policy, is scheduled to visit China. Sullivan and Wang also discussed methods to decrease the flow of illicit synthetic drugs into the U.S. and the continued repatriation of undocumented migrants.

In July, the U.S. Border Patrol reported a decline in arrests of Chinese immigrants—a total of 1,851 arrests on the border with Mexico, a significant drop from the peak of 5,951 in December of the previous year.

Additional discussions between the two nations will include a second round of dialogue on artificial intelligence, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

However, Sullivan also raised ongoing issues surrounding China’s trade policies and its non-market economic practices. In response, Wang demanded an end to U.S. actions perceived as suppressing China in sectors such as trade, economy, and technology.

Wang warned that American protectionist policies would only hinder global green development and negatively impact worldwide economic growth.