In their telephone conversation on April 2, 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden once again agreed to enhance cooperation between the two countries.[1] They discussed the progress made in bilateral relations since their meeting in San Francisco in November and agreed to strengthen communication to ensure the steady development of these ties and avoid misunderstandings.
This was the last phone call following the exchange of congratulations on the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries on January 1, 2024. Xi welcomed the stabilizing trend of bilateral relations in recent months, while noting that there are a number of negative factors that require the attention of both sides.
In recent years, Beijing’s ties with Washington have been hampered by issues such as China’s relations with Russia, the Taiwan issue, and recent tensions and trade issues in the South China Sea. Bilateral relations began to thaw somewhat in late 2023 when Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden held a meeting in San Francisco on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. The most important decision taken during this meeting was the resumption of defense consultations between the two sides. Both Xi and Biden also celebrated the anniversary of diplomatic relations in their “New Year” messages.
On January 5, 2024, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that it has become inevitable to conduct US-China relations on a healthy basis and mentioned the importance of building “bridges of communication” between the parties.[2] Wang Yi said that under current global conditions, the US and China have more common interests than ever before and the need for cooperation has increased.[3] Wang’s conciliatory words, calling for cooperation, come after a year of intensified tensions between the two superpowers.
According to experts, Washington needs to take much more concrete and sincere steps to address Beijing’s concerns. Beijing is making efforts to put bilateral ties on a solid and stable footing. Tensions in US-China relations have risen sharply since the trade wars of the last two decades, which escalated into a serious crisis in 2018. In February 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Beijing was postponed after a Chinese balloon entered US airspace. Blinken’s visit to Beijing was delayed by four months and took place in June 2023. In general, in 2023, Washington tried to mitigate the intense rivalry with Beijing.
The détente and cooperation in bilateral relations also had an impact on regional crises. Antony Blinken, for example, said that he would work with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to prevent the Israeli-Hamas war from spreading.[4] It seems that Washington wants Beijing to use its influence with other countries in the Middle East to prevent this conflict from escalating. Similar pursuits have taken place in the case of Russia’s nuclear use or North Korea’s dangerous missile tests. The Western world, and the United States in particular, tends to see China as a mediating actor to contain Russia and North Korea in the context of global competition. In this respect, the West actually needs China. The US’s efforts to keep its relations with China positive can also be explained by this.
Global and regional security concerns, the Russia-Ukraine War and the developments in the Taiwan Strait have been high on the agenda of bilateral relations. Despite all these tensions, China has always left the door open for dialogue with the US. However, it is debatable which side benefits from this dialogue. The US can also benefit from China’s moderate approach. More precisely, China’s pro-dialog and pro-cooperation stance could pave the way for the US to further advance its interests in the region.
In recent years, China has frequently criticized the US for acting with a “Cold War mentality”. Tensions in the Asia-Pacific have also escalated as Washington pursues a policy of polarization. Conflicts of interest between the great powers are deepening and the concept of zero-sum game is still valid. However, China continues to advocate a win-win approach. On the other hand, the US is trying to push China to the opposite pole in line with the global polarization trend. In short, the US is adopting a more confrontational stance to contain the rising China. China, on the other hand, does not seek direct competition with the US. On the contrary, it aims to maintain its economic growth by keeping bilateral relations positive.
White House National Security Spokesperson John F. Kirby stated on April 2, 2024 that the two leaders had a “cordial and constructive” meeting.[5] Kirby said that Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen will visit China soon and Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit shortly after. These will be the first visits by cabinet members to China this year. These efforts of dialogue and cooperation between senior leaders are helping to reduce tensions in the Asia-Pacific. The United States is nevertheless keen to maintain contact with China and manage the rivalry “carefully”. During the last meeting, Xi reminded that the Taiwan issue is the first red line that should not be crossed between China and the US. As a result, the US needs to avoid provocative actions, especially on the Taiwan issue, in order to keep its relations with China positive. As long as Washington’s crisis politics does not come to an end, it is unlikely that relations will improve in the short term.
[1] “Xi, Biden agree to advance cooperation”, China Daily, https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202404/03/WS660c4151a31082fc043c0148.html, (Date of Acces: 03.04.2024).
[2] “China Foreign Minister: Healthy US-China Ties ‘No Longer a Choice’”, VOA News, https://www.voanews.com/a/china-foreign-minister-healthy-us-china-ties-no-longer-a-choice-/7428007.html, (Date of Acces: 03.04.2024).
[3] Same place.
[4] Same place.
[5] “Biden Talks to Xi About Conflicts, From Ukraine to the Pacific”, Ny Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/02/us/politics/biden-xi-call.html, (Date of Acces: 03.04.2024).
