Xi-Sullivan Meeting & Comparing U.S. and Chinese Readouts of Sullivan's Discussions with Top Officials

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan conclude his three-day mission to China today. This trip includes key engagements with top Chinese officials, including:

1. Aug. 28: Discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

2. Aug. 29: Talks with Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission

3. Aug. 29: Meeting with President Xi Jinping

Chinese readout of Xi-Sullivan meeting

Source: Xinhua

Xi Jinping pointed out that in the face of a complex and turbulent international situation, countries need unity and cooperation, not division and confrontation. People desire openness and progress, not isolation and regression. As two major countries, China and the United States should be responsible to history, to the people, and to the world, becoming a source of stability for world peace and a driving force for common development.

Xi emphasized that in dealing with each other, the most important thing for China and the United States is to establish correct strategic perceptions. They must first answer the fundamental question of whether they are adversaries or partners. China's foreign policy is open and transparent, with honorable strategic intentions, maintaining a high degree of continuity and stability. We focus on doing our own things well, continuously improving and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics that suits China's national conditions through further comprehensive deepening of reforms. China adheres to the path of peaceful development, and while achieving its own development, is willing to develop together with other countries and work hand in hand to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi pointed out that China's policy towards the United States maintains a high degree of consistency. Although both countries' situations and China-U.S. relations have undergone significant changes, China's goal of stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations has not changed. The principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation in handling China-U.S. relations have not changed. China's firm stance on safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and development interests has not changed. The efforts to continue the traditional friendship between the Chinese and American people have not changed. We hope that the U.S. side will meet China halfway, view China and its development with a positive and rational attitude, see each other's development as opportunities rather than challenges, and work with China to find the right way for two countries with different civilizations, systems, and paths to coexist peacefully and develop together on Earth, promoting stability in China-U.S. relations, and on this basis, strive for improvement and progress.

Sullivan conveyed President Biden's greetings to President Xi Jinping and thanked him for taking the time to meet. He stated that since the San Francisco summit between the leaders of the two countries, both sides have earnestly implemented the consensus reached by the two heads of state and made positive progress. My strategic communication with Director Wang Yi during this visit to China was in-depth, frank, substantive, and constructive. I would like to reiterate that the U.S. does not seek a 'new Cold War,' does not seek to change China's system, does not seek to oppose China by strengthening alliances, does not support 'Taiwan independence,' and has no intention of conflict with China. The U.S. one-China policy has not changed, and there is no intention to use Taiwan as a tool to contain China. The U.S. side hopes to continue maintaining strategic communication with China to find ways for peaceful coexistence between the U.S. and China and for the continued development of U.S.-China relations. President Biden looks forward to having the opportunity to communicate with President Xi Jinping again soon.

Xi Jinping asked Sullivan to convey his greetings to President Biden and expressed his willingness to continue communication with President Biden to steer the course of China-U.S. relations.

US readout:

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met on August 29 with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China. The meeting was part of ongoing efforts to maintain channels of communication and responsibly manage the relationship between the United States and the PRC.  The two sides discussed further implementation of the commitments President Biden and President Xi made at the November 2023 Woodside Summit, including on counternarcotics, military-to-military communications, and AI safety and risk. They also discussed cross-Strait issues, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the South China Sea. Both sides welcomed ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication, including planning for a call between President Biden and President Xi in the coming weeks.

Let’s see whether there will be a Xi-Biden call in the coming weeks.

For Sullivan’s meeting with Wang Yi

Source: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/wjbzhd/202408/t20240828_11480627.shtml

Wang Yi Holds Strategic Communication with U.S. National Security Advisor Sullivan

Wang Yi introduced the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, emphasizing that this meeting is a new important milestone in China's reform and opening up. It provides a new perspective for the outside world to understand China and new opportunities for common development among countries.

Wang Yi emphasized that Taiwan belongs to China, and China will inevitably be unified. "Taiwan independence" is the greatest risk to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. should put its commitment to not support "Taiwan independence" into practice, adhere to the One China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, stop arming Taiwan, and support China's peaceful reunification.

Wang Yi pointed out that the security of all countries must be common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable. One country's security cannot be built on the insecurity of others. National security needs clear boundaries, especially in the economic field, which requires scientific definition. The U.S. should stop suppressing China in the economic, trade, and technology fields, and stop harming China's legitimate interests. Using "overcapacity" as an excuse for protectionism will only harm global green development and affect world economic growth.

Wang Yi stressed that China firmly safeguards its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests over the South China Sea islands, and maintains the seriousness and effectiveness of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. The United States should not use bilateral treaties as an excuse to undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor should it support or encourage the Philippines to take infringing actions.

Sullivan stated that there are differences and competition between the U.S. and China, as well as many areas that require cooperation. He agreed that both sides should treat each other equally, and competition should be healthy and fair. The U.S. has no intention of decoupling from China. The U.S. adheres to the One China policy and does not support "Taiwan independence," "two Chinas," or "one China, one Taiwan." The U.S. and China will coexist peacefully on this planet for a long time, and the U.S. policy goal is to find ways for sustainable development of U.S.-China relations. The U.S. is willing to maintain strategic communication with China to enhance mutual understanding and reduce misunderstandings and misjudgments.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues such as Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Korean Peninsula. Wang Yi said that China has always been committed to promoting peace talks and pushing for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis, and we will continue to do the right thing. The U.S. should not shift responsibility to China, nor should it impose illegal unilateral sanctions.

Both sides discussed a new round of interactions between the two heads of state in the near future. They agreed to continue implementing the important consensus reached at the San Francisco meeting between the two heads of state, maintain high-level exchanges and communication at various levels, and continue cooperation in areas such as drug control, law enforcement, repatriation of illegal immigrants, and addressing climate change. They agreed to arrange institutional arrangements such as video calls between military theater leaders and the second round of China-U.S. inter-governmental dialogue on artificial intelligence in due course.

Here is the US ver readout published by the White House:

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s meeting with Chinese Communist Party Politburo Member, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met on August 27-28 with Chinese Communist Party Politburo Member, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi outside Beijing, China.  This meeting was part of ongoing efforts to maintain channels of communication and responsibly manage the relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), as discussed by President Biden and President Xi at the November 2023 Woodside Summit.  

The two sides held candid, substantive, and constructive discussions on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.  They discussed progress and next steps on implementation of the Woodside Summit commitments, including counternarcotics, military-to-military communications, and AI safety and risk.  Both sides welcomed ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication, including planning for a leader-level call in the coming weeks.  They noted the importance of regular, ongoing military-to-military communications and planned to hold a theater commander telephone call in the near future.  Mr. Sullivan and Director Wang discussed next steps to reduce the flow of illicit synthetic drugs, continue repatriation of undocumented migrants, and law enforcement cooperation.  They underscored the importance of concrete steps to tackle the climate crisis and welcomed further discussions during Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy John Podesta’s upcoming travel to China. 

Mr. Sullivan emphasized that the United States will continue to take necessary actions to prevent advanced U.S. technologies from being used to undermine our national security, without unduly limiting trade or investment.  He also raised continued concerns about the PRC’s unfair trade policies and non-market economic practices.  Mr. Sullivan reiterated that it remains a top priority to resolve the cases of American citizens who are wrongfully detained or subject to exit bans in China.  He also underscored the long-standing U.S. commitment to universal human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Mr. Sullivan underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.  He emphasized concerns about the PRC’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base and its impact on European and transatlantic security.  Mr. Sullivan reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to defending its Indo-Pacific allies and expressed concern about the PRC’s destabilizing actions against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea.  The two sides also discussed shared concerns about the DPRK, Burma, and the Middle East.

Mr. Sullivan and Director Wang noted the importance of this strategic channel of communication over the past eighteen months and committed to maintaining high-level diplomacy and working level consultations on an ongoing basis.

My takes:

The public diplomacy part is missing in both readouts, probably because there has been a sort of consensus to promote people-to-people communication.

The interesting thing is we didn’t see Myanmar in the Chinese readout, while the US readout failed to mention its support for Ukraine directly. (I don’t know the reason; maybe it’s included in the Russian part?)

Sullivan’s meeting with Zhang Youxia

http://www.mod.gov.cn/gfbw/jswj/16334277.html

Zhang Youxia stated that President Xi Jinping and President Biden's successful meeting in San Francisco last November, followed by another phone call between the two heads of state this April, have set the direction for stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations. Both sides should implement the consensus reached by the two leaders and work towards turning the "San Francisco vision" into reality. Maintaining stability in the military and security domains between China and the US aligns with the common interests of both parties and meets the general expectations of the international community. He expressed hope that the US side would join China in exerting efforts towards mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. The US should correct its strategic perception of China, return to a rational and pragmatic China policy, genuinely respect China's core interests, and work with China to promote communication and exchanges between the two militaries while jointly shouldering the responsibilities of major powers.

Zhang Youxia emphasized that the Taiwan issue is at the core of China's core interests, the foundation of the political basis of China-US relations, and the first uncrossable red line in China-US relations. China has always been committed to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace and stability in the Strait. Resolutely opposing "independence" and promoting reunification is the mission and responsibility of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. We must counter the reckless provocations of "Taiwan independence" forces. China demands that the US cease military ties with Taiwan, stop arming Taiwan, and refrain from spreading false narratives about Taiwan.

The two sides also exchanged views on other issues.

White House readout

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met on August 29 with General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission in Beijing, China. Mr. Sullivan stressed that both countries have a responsibility to prevent competition from veering into conflict or confrontation. The two sides reaffirmed the importance of regular military-to-military communications as part of efforts to maintain high-level diplomacy and open lines of communication, as directed by President Biden and President Xi at the November 2023 Woodside Summit. Mr. Sullivan and Vice Chairman Zhang recognized the progress in sustained, regular military-military communications over the past ten months and planned to hold a theater commander telephone call in the near future. Mr. Sullivan also raised the importance of cross-Strait peace and stability, the U.S. commitment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, concerns about PRC support for Russia’s defense industrial base, the need to avoid miscalculation and escalation in cyber space, and ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza.

The Chinese side readout focuses mostly on the Taiwan issue. Both sides agreed to hold a theater commander telephone call soon, which is a good thing to avoid miscalculations for field commanders.