The United States said on Monday that China’s top diplomat will make an uncommon trip to Washington this week, opening the door for President Xi Jinping to perhaps visit in an attempt to defuse tensions.
With tensions over trade, the Middle East, Taiwan, and China’s forceful operations at sea near the Philippines, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the highest-ranking Chinese official in the US capital in almost five years, will be in town from Thursday through Saturday.
According to a top US official, the visit was a part of the two biggest economies in the world’s attempts to “responsibly manage our competition.”
“We continue to believe that direct face-to-face diplomacy is the best way to raise challenging issues, address misperception and miscommunication, and explore working with the Chinese where our interests intersect,” he said on customary condition of anonymity.
Wang is following up on Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s June visit to Beijing, which was the highest-ranking US official to visit China since 2018.
Blinken met with Xi and other senior Chinese officials for eleven hours. Wang, who is in Washington this week, is reportedly anticipating a similar encounter with President Joe Biden, according to diplomats.
Biden has asked China’s leader to come to San Francisco next month for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit hosted by the United States. Biden last saw Xi in November while attending Group of 20 meetings in Bali.
Asked if Wang’s visit will formalize a visit by Xi, another US official said that Biden “has stated multiple times that he hopes to see President Xi in the near future” and declined further comment.
Both sides have expressed an interest in recent months in avoiding conflict. Xi, earlier this month receiving Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, said the US-China relationship “will determine the future and destiny of mankind.”
But tensions have repeatedly soared including after China carried out major military exercises near Taiwan, the US-backed democracy claimed by Beijing, following actions by US lawmakers.
As a result of the US ally Philippines’ accusations on Monday that China intentionally struck its boats during a resupply trip in disputed waters, Beijing accused Manila of spreading “false information.”
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security advisor, spoke with his Philippine counterpart over the phone on Monday to express support following China’s “dangerous and unlawful actions.” Wang and Sullivan will also meet in Washington, according to officials.
