US and China Officials Convene in Malta to Open Dialogue

Summary:

• US and China officials meet in Malta to renew channels of communication.
• The talks are aimed at opening doors for a potential Xi-Biden meeting at the APEC Summit in San Francisco.
• Wang Yi and Jake Sullivan discussed a wide range of issues including Taiwan, Moscow, and the absence of Chinese Defense Minister Li Xiangfu.

Officials from the US and China have met in Malta to renew channels of communication between the two nations. The objective of the dialogue is to pave the way for a potential Xi Jinping-Joe Biden talk at the APEC Summit scheduled for November in San Francisco. While progress has been made, there are still several issues to resolve before the meeting can take place.

US and China Officials Meet in Malta to Discuss Sensitive Issues

Officials from the US and China met in Malta last weekend to discuss various issues affecting the two countries. The meeting, which was held to establish communication channels between the two nations, lays the groundwork for a potential meeting between President Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in November at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. Both sides discussed a range of sensitive issues, including Taiwan, human rights, and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Importance of the Malta Meeting

Although the Malta meeting was not as significant as some other high-level conferences in the past, particularly the Malta Conference in 1945 and the meeting between Gorbachev and George Bush Sr. in 1989, it was still an important event. The meeting was aimed at keeping communication channels open between US and Chinese officials, who have had a strained relationship in recent years. Both sides reiterated their longstanding positions on sticky issues such as Taiwan, with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, stating that Taiwan is a red line in the nation's relationship with the US.

Discussions at the Malta Meeting

A range of issues were discussed at the Malta meeting. These included the impending visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister to Moscow to discuss ongoing support for the country, human rights concerns, and Taiwan. Both sides also discussed the potential meeting between President Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in November at the APEC summit in San Francisco, laying the groundwork for such an event. However, there are still many sticking points to be addressed before the two leaders can meet.

Concerns over China's Support for Moscow

The ongoing war in Ukraine has caused concern among US officials, particularly regarding China's support for Moscow. The Chinese Foreign Minister's upcoming visit to Moscow was discussed at the Malta meeting, with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressing his concerns about China's support for Russia. The meeting did not result in any significant change in position from either nation, but it did open channels for further discussion.

Taiwan Remains a Sticky Issue between the US and China

Taiwan has long been a contentious issue between the US and China, and it was once again on the agenda at the Malta meeting. Both sides reiterated their position on the island nation, with Wang Yi stating that Taiwan is a red line in China's relationship with the US. However, there was no significant change in position from either side, and the issue is likely to remain a sticking point in the relationship between the two nations.

Potential Meeting between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden

The main goal of the Malta meeting was to lay the groundwork for a potential meeting between President Xi Jinping and Joe Biden at the APEC summit in San Francisco in November. Both sides acknowledged that there was a lot of work to be done ahead of such a meeting, but it is clear that the desire for a high-level discussion is there. The last time the two leaders met was in May in Vienna, and they have much to catch up on.

Conclusion

The US and China officials meeting in Malta was an important event that opened channels of communication between the two nations. While many sticky issues remain unresolved, the meeting laid the groundwork for a potential meeting between President Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in San Francisco in November. The ongoing war in Ukraine and China's support for Moscow remain significant concerns for US officials, and Taiwan remains a major sticking point. The world will be watching closely to see if the two leaders can come to an agreement on these and other issues at the APEC summit.

While it is uncertain if this meeting will lead to a Xi-Biden talk, the dialogue has opened channels of communication between both nations. The APEC Summit in November will be a significant platform for top leaders to resolve the issues that have divided the US and China.