The White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, made a historic visit to China, the first in eight years, laying the groundwork for a potential summit between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The visit, reported by state broadcaster CCTV, is seen as crucial for implementing the leaders’ consensus reached in November.
Sullivan was welcomed at Beijing airport by Chinese officials and the US ambassador, marking the beginning of talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Their discussions are expected to cover various bilateral issues, from Taiwan to the South China Sea, and touch on sensitive topics such as the US fentanyl crisis and China’s alleged support for Russia in the Ukraine war.
The discussions between Sullivan and Wang come amidst increasing tensions in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines, a US ally, further complicating the meeting agenda.