BANGKOK: Top US and Chinese officials concluded two days of talks in Bangkok, aiming to enhance their relationship and address shared concerns. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi engaged in discussions for more than 12 hours, building on the agreement reached during the Biden-Xi summit in November.
While the two sides committed to continuing communication and exploring additional channels, the US fell short in persuading China to use its economic influence with Iran to curb Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The issue remains a point of contention between the two powers.
The senior US official highlighted the importance of Beijing leveraging its substantial influence over Iran, given its significant purchases of Iranian oil. The US sought China’s assistance in persuading Houthi in Yemen, to cease their attacks on ships. Despite China stating that it raised concerns with Iranian counterparts, the US awaits tangible results before assessing the effectiveness of China’s intervention.
Beyond the Red Sea issue, Sullivan and Wang announced the launch of a US-China counternarcotics working group and discussed plans for talks on the risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence in the spring.
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The officials also acknowledged recent progress in resuming military-to-military communications. The US framed these renewed communications as a crucial means to manage competition and tensions responsibly, especially concerning Taiwan.
Amid rising tensions, Sullivan reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, while Wang emphasized that the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair. The recent election in Taiwan, which saw Vice President Lai Ching-te becoming the island’s new leader, was labeled by China as a challenge to peace and stability.
Taiwan reported 33 Chinese military aircraft detected around the island, marking the most significant presence since Lai’s election.
The talks reflect ongoing challenges in the US-China relationship, with both cooperation and competition in focus. The inability to secure Chinese cooperation on the Red Sea issue underscores the complexity of navigating shared interests amid strategic differences.
