US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan Begins Beijing Visit

United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a three-day visit. Sullivan is set to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his trip.

Upon landing at Beijing Capital International Airport, Sullivan was greeted by Yang Tao of China’s Foreign Ministry and US Ambassador Nicholas Burns. According to China’s Foreign Ministry, the discussions during Sullivan’s visit will focus on several critical issues, including the Taiwan question, development rights, and strategic security.

State media outlet Global Times reported that Sullivan’s visit is being conducted at the invitation of Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister and a member of the Communist Party’s Political Bureau. This marks the first visit by a US national security advisor to China in eight years; Susan Rice made a similar trip in 2016 during President Barack Obama’s administration.

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby informed reporters on August 26 that Sullivan’s visit will feature two days of meetings with Wang Yi, from August 27 to August 29. This visit will be the fifth meeting between Wang and Sullivan, reflecting a crucial channel for managing the competitive and tense aspects of US-China relations.

Kirby noted that Sullivan’s trip follows discussions between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping during the Woodside Summit in November 2023 in the US. In Beijing, Sullivan will address key issues in the US-China relationship, including enhancing counternarcotics cooperation, military-to-military communication, and discussions on AI safety and risks—outcomes identified at the Woodside Summit.

Kirby added that Sullivan will also raise concerns from a security perspective about various Indo-Pacific issues, including rising tensions in the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and unfair economic practices.

Sullivan’s visit comes ahead of the US presidential elections in November and is expected to play a significant role in shaping ongoing bilateral relations between the two countries.