BEIJING – A top White House official is embarking on a crucial journey to China for talks on a relationship that has undergone significant strains during President Joe Biden’s administration.

Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, will be in China from Tuesday to Thursday. Serving as Biden’s primary contact for undisclosed discussions with top Chinese officials, Sullivan aims to navigate the growing differences between the two superpowers.

The primary objective of his visit is to sustain open lines of communication that deteriorated for a substantial period in 2022-2023, gradually recovering over subsequent months. While no major announcements are anticipated, Sullivan’s meetings could pave the way for a potential summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping before Biden’s term concludes in January.

During his visit, Sullivan will engage in discussions with Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister who also holds the prestigious title of Director of the Communist Party’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office.

Rarely do individuals hold both positions concurrently. Wang briefly stepped down as Foreign Minister but resumed his duties in July 2023, following the removal of his successor, under undisclosed circumstances.

The Biden administration has adopted a firm stance on China, viewing it as a strategic rival. This perspective has led to constraints on Chinese companies’ access to advanced technologies, while also addressing China’s assertive actions in regions like Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Relations between the two nations took a sharp downturn when the then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022. Subsequent attempts to mend ties were further strained in February following an incident involving a suspected Chinese spy balloon drifting into U.S. airspace before being intercepted by the military.

A meeting between Sullivan and Wang in Vienna in May 2023 marked the beginning of a delicate process to rebuild relations. Subsequent meetings in Malta and Thailand followed, with this week’s talks set to take place in Beijing.

China’s Foreign Ministry has emphasized the critical nature of current relations with the U.S., acknowledging ongoing dialogues on various issues like climate change. However, it has accused the U.S. of imposing restrictions and suppressing China’s interests.

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