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Dewey Sim

The latest high-level talks between China and the US signal that ties are slowly warming, and that there is political resolve to manage tensions, according to analysts.
The assessment came as Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng is expected to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York on Monday.
That meeting, to be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, follows talks in Malta over the weekend between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat. Both sides described the talks as “candid, substantive and constructive”, touching on topics ranging from bilateral ties to the war in Ukraine, and Taiwan.

According to the US readout, the Malta meeting was part of “ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage the relationship”. It also said the US “noted the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.
China’s foreign ministry on Sunday said the talks were focused on “stabilising and improving relations”.
Wang stressed that the Taiwan issue was the “first insurmountable red line in Sino-US relations”, and that Chinese people could not be deprived of their “legitimate right to development”.
Wang told Malta’s President George Vella that he had discussed with Sullivan ways to effectively manage differences and explore mutually beneficial cooperation, calling the meeting “comprehensive, in-depth and beneficial”, according to a separate Chinese statement.
Readouts from both sides said Wang and Sullivan had agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and pursue further talks in “key areas” in the coming months.
Reuters reported that the meeting spanned about 12 hours and quoted a senior US official as saying there were “limited” early signs that military communications between the nations may be restored.
It was the second meeting between Wang and Sullivan in about four months, as both sides seek to repair frayed ties and manage rising tensions.
A number of top US officials have visited China in recent months, including Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and climate envoy John Kerry.


Wang Yiwei, an international relations professor at Renmin University in Beijing, said the latest talks showed that US-China ties were “indeed warming up again in stages”.
He said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s absence from recent international forums had raised concern that an anticipated meeting with his US counterpart Joe Biden may not happen.
Xi did not attend the Group of 20 summit in India earlier this month, sending Premier Li Qiang instead. Vice-President Han Zheng will take Xi’s place at the UN General Assembly in New York this week.
“Many are worried that any hope of a Xi-Biden meeting has been dashed. The conversation [between Wang Yi and Sullivan] was largely for the purpose of laying the foundation for a meeting between the two leaders,” he said.
Dylan Loh, an assistant professor of foreign policy at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said that – especially now – any meetings between US and Chinese officials were important.
“There are multiple points of contention between Beijing and Washington and the overall relationship has been rocky so any communication is helpful and takes on extra significance,” he said.
In recent weeks, the two powers have sparred over issues including visits by Taiwanese delegations to the US and what Beijing perceives as attempts by Washington to contain China economically.
But Loh said that despite the “overall negative structure of their relationship, there is clear political will to maintain and even increase communication”.
He added that the Wang-Sullivan talks indicated that both sides wanted – and were working towards – a meeting between their top leaders.
China derides Taiwan for its efforts to take part in UN General Assembly
Wang from Renmin University said Washington had much to gain politically from mending its ties with Beijing.
He said the Biden administration would want to “make achievements in its relations with China” as the US election neared.
The US may also need to enlist China’s help on international issues such as Russia’s war in Ukraine, he said, while pressure had been growing from the business community to improve ties.
“Biden is hoping to bring down the temperature,” he said. “His administration will spare no effort on the domestic and foreign affairs fronts to win the election.”
Pentagon says cyberattacks are part of China’s armory for conflict with US
The international relations professor also said the weekend talks showed there was a consensus on both sides for “guard rails” to be discussed even as the two countries engage in competition.
Wang said that was particularly important as concerns grew over a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait amid increased military activity in the area.
“This issue requires some urgent communication,” he said.


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US-China relations

US-China ties seen ‘warming up again in stages’ as top officials meet

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, hold talks in Malta on Saturday. Photo: Xinhua via AP

Vice-President Han Zheng is expected to meet the US secretary of state in New York. Photo: AFP

China-US ties: Vice-President Han Zheng to meet Secretary of State Antony Blinken on sidelines of UN General Assembly on Monday

Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng is expected to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Photo: Pool Photo via AP

White House adviser Jake Sullivan holds ‘candid’ talks with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan discussed “key issues in the US-China bilateral relationship” during two days of talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Photo: EPA-EFE

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the US must implement its commitment not to support “Taiwan independence”. Photo: AP

US security officials see diplomatic progress, decry weak military dialogue with China

US defence and security officials pressed China to resume military communications on Wednesday. Image: Shutterstock

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed concern that while US-China diplomatic meetings have recently been held, not enough has been done to restore military communications. Photo: YNA/dpa

Ely Ratner, assistant US secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said the lack of communications was “dangerous, and the PLA has got to knock it off”. Photo: Reuters

Rising China not a challenge for US, Premier Li Qiang told Joe Biden on G20 sidelines

Chinese Premier Li Qiang (centre) and other international leaders at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, held over September 9-10. Photo: Kyodo

News

China

Diplomacy

Chinese vice-president is set to meet US secretary of state in New York
There is ‘clear political will’ to manage tensions, according to analyst


Chinese vice-president is set to meet US secretary of state in New York. Analyst says there is ‘clear political will’ to manage tensions.


Malta

US-China ties seen ‘warming up again in stages’ as top officials meet

Chinese vice-president is set to meet US secretary of state in New York There is ‘clear political will’ to manage tensions, according to analyst

Chinese vice-president is set to meet US secretary of state in New York

There is ‘clear political will’ to manage tensions, according to analyst