U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan concluded three days of discussions in Beijing with a significant meeting on Thursday with General Zhang Youxia, a top military official close to Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting, which marked the first between Zhang and a Biden administration official, aimed to reduce tensions between the U.S. and China and improve military-to-military communication. Sullivan emphasized the importance of such communication to prevent competition from escalating into conflict, noting the rarity of such high-level interactions.

Both sides highlighted progress in establishing communication channels, including plans for theatre-level commanders to communicate by telephone, a priority for the U.S. amid increasing regional deployments. Sullivan also reiterated the U.S.'s concerns about maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait and ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, a critical trade route. Additionally, the U.S. raised concerns about China's support for Russia's defense industry.

General Zhang, who is regarded as more influential than China’s defense minister due to his close relationship with Xi, acknowledged the U.S. government's commitment to military security through this meeting. Sullivan also engaged in extensive talks with China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, focusing on managing U.S.-China relations ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November.

Their discussions covered a wide array of topics, including the possibility of future talks between President Biden and Xi Jinping, differing views on issues such as the Middle East, Ukraine, Taiwan, and trade. Wang emphasized the importance of mutual respect in the U.S.-China relationship. The White House described the talks as candid, substantive, and constructive.

In the final months of his presidency, Biden has prioritized direct diplomacy to manage tensions with China, a strategy that is likely to continue if Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, wins the upcoming election. However, some analysts aligned with former President Donald Trump, the current Republican candidate, view this approach as too lenient given China's assertive foreign policy.

The U.S. also urged China to take stronger domestic actions to curb the production of chemicals used to make fentanyl, a leading cause of drug overdoses in the U.S., and to reach an understanding on artificial intelligence safety standards. Meanwhile, Beijing expressed its objections to U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods and export controls on Chinese chipmakers, as well as its claims of sovereignty over Taiwan.