WASHINGTON —

A high-level U.S. delegation arrived in China to follow up on President Biden's recent talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and to prepare for Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China early next year.


The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that on December 11 and 12, Vice Minister Xie Feng held a "candid, in-depth and constructive meeting with visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific Affairs Kang Da and White House National Security Council Senior Director for China Affairs Rosenberg. "talks.

The press release stated that the two sides held consultations on implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state at their meeting in Bali last month, and conducted in-depth communication on important and sensitive issues such as Taiwan, strengthening exchanges at all levels and carrying out cooperation in related fields.

In early August this year, Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan. Beijing was furious and temporarily suspended almost all channels of communication with the United States.


A senior White House official said last week that China wants to stabilize its relationship with the United States in the short term amid domestic economic challenges and resistance to its assertive diplomacy in Asia.

The State Department announced last week that Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink and Laura Rosenberger, the senior director for China and Taiwan affairs at the White House National Security Council, will visit China, South Korea, and Japan from Dec. 11-14.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held blunt talks on Taiwan and North Korea during the G20 summit in Indonesia in mid-November. The talks are aimed at preventing strained U.S.-China relations from turning into a new Cold War.

The two leaders pledged to communicate more frequently amid rising differences over human rights, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the economy.


The State Department said last week that the delegation would follow up on the two leaders' agreement to "continue to responsibly manage competition between our two countries and explore potential areas of cooperation" and would lay the groundwork for Blinken's visit.

Discontent over China's strict COVID-19 containment measures turned into massive mass protests last month, the largest outburst of public discontent since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012. These strict anti-epidemic measures have also led to a slowdown in China's economy.

Kurt Campbell, the White House coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs, said on Thursday that these issues, combined with the fact that China has disaffected many of its neighbors, meant it was interested in establishing a relationship with Washington "in the short term." more predictable relationships.

Campbell was speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington. Two days ago, the United States announced plans to strengthen the rotating military presence of its ally Australia in the key region in response to the two countries shared concerns about China.