Earlier than assembly Xi, Sullivan had a rare meeting with a basic thought of by diplomats to be the president’s key navy adviser, Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Army Fee. He additionally had in depth discussions with China’s high diplomat, Wang Yi, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
With Zhang, Sullivan pushed for enhanced working-level communications between the international locations’ militaries throughout what was the primary assembly between Zhang and a Biden administration official.
Sullivan stated that each international locations had a duty to forestall competitors from veering into battle or confrontation.
“Given the state of the world and the necessity for us to responsibly handle US-China relations, I believe it is an important assembly,” he stated.
Each referred to progress in navy communications and preparations for theatre-level commanders to talk quickly by phone, which the US has pushed for amid elevated regional deployments.
The White Home stated Sullivan additionally emphasised the necessity for stability throughout the Taiwan Strait and freedom of navigation within the disputed South China Sea, a significant commerce waterway, and raised considerations about China’s assist for Russia’s defence industrial base.
Zhang is believed to be near Xi and has survived turmoil in China’s military ranks. Western and Asian diplomats say he’s extra highly effective than the defence minister, who extra often meets international officers.
“CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS”
In Wednesday’s assembly, Wang and Sullivan mentioned the prospect of recent talks quickly between Biden and Xi and shared contrasting views on the conflicts within the Center East and Ukraine, Chinese language territorial claims from Taiwan to the South China Sea and commerce.
“The important thing to the sleek improvement of China-US interplay lies in treating one another as equals,” Wang instructed Sullivan, in keeping with state broadcaster CCTV.
The White Home stated the 2 held “candid, substantive, and constructive discussions”.
Within the ultimate months of his presidency forward of the Nov 5 election, Biden has pushed direct diplomacy to affect Xi and maintain tensions at bay. US Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, would most likely pursue an analogous technique.
Nevertheless, many analysts aligned with former president and present Republican candidate Donald Trump see that method as too tender within the face of China’s more and more assertive international coverage.
