US national security adviser heading to China next week for talks

WASHINGTON

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan will depart for China next week for talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, in what a senior administration official said Friday will be a visit aimed at "responsibly managing competition and tensions."

Sullivan will travel to Beijing for meetings with Wang from Aug. 27-29 in what will mark the fifth such series of talks. Those sit-downs have served as an "important channel" in US-Sino relations throughout the Biden administration, the official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, said.

They are expected to address key issues in the bilateral relationship, including counter-narcotics cooperation, military-to-military communications, artificial intelligence and key foreign policy issues.

"I expect we will also spend some time on areas of difference, as we always do. Mr. Sullivan will raise us concerns about China's support for Russia's defense industrial base, the South China Sea, and various other issues. I expect the two will also exchange views on other global issues like the DPRK, Middle East and Burma, and I expect they will also discuss cross strait issues," the official said, referring to North Korea and Myanmar.

Iran will also be addressed during the talks, the official said, amid fears that it could soon retaliate for the assassination of Hamas' former political leader in Tehran late last month. The official acknowledged that the US and China approach Iran "fundamentally from some different directions," but said there "are some shared concerns about instability."

Sullivan and Wang are expected to meet for 10-12 hours over the course of two days, a timeline that is in line with their previous meetings.