National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with top Chinese defense official Gen. Zhang Youxia in Beijing, marking the highest-level public engagement the Biden administration has had with the Chinese military. Sullivan emphasized the importance of preventing conflict or confrontation between the two countries and raised concerns about Chinese pressure on Taiwan and actions in the South China Sea. Zhang reiterated China’s position on Taiwan as a core interest and called for the U.S. to stop military collusion with Taiwan.
The meeting comes amid rising military tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, with Washington criticizing Chinese actions in the South China Sea and support for Russia’s defense industry in the Ukraine conflict. Sullivan and Zhang discussed peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The talks were described as candid, substantive, and constructive, with plans for a leader-level call between Biden and Xi in the coming weeks.
This meeting was the first time a U.S. official had met with a Chinese commission vice chair since 2018. Sullivan’s visit to China is part of efforts to address tensions in the crucial U.S.-China relationship. Both sides also discussed resuming military-to-military communications, which were cut off by Xi in 2022 in response to a visit to Taiwan by Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Overall, the meeting reflects ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and address complex issues in the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
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