US National Security Adviser Susan Rice is visiting Beijing to help lay the diplomatic groundwork for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) state visit to Washington next month.
Among the topics China is expected to raise are arms sales to Taiwan and next year’s presidential election.
Rice is to visit Beijing today and tomorrow and meet with senior officials, including Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (楊潔篪).
She will consult on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues, a White House statement said.
“She will underscore the US’ commitment to building a more productive relationship between our two countries, as well as discuss areas of difference in advance of President Xi’s state visit,” the statement added.
The Financial Press media outlet said that Rice’s trip to Beijing comes as global markets are “increasingly jittery” about the state of the Chinese economy.
Stock markets in the US and Asia have suffered dramatic drops this week as a result of fears about a slowdown in China’s growth.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker — one of the many candidates for the Republican presidential nomination — has even called for Xi’s visit to be canceled.
“Given China’s massive cyberattacks against America, its militarization of the South China Sea, continued state interference with its economy, and persistent persecution of Christians and human rights activists, [US] President [Barack] Obama needs to cancel the state visit,” Walker said.
The White House has ruled out a cancelation and Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz has said that Obama will use the Xi summit to “speak candidly about the differences we have in this exceptionally and admittedly complex relationship.”
During her visit, Rice will almost certainly discuss the devaluation of the yuan, human rights, cybersecurity, climate change, and China’s efforts to build and militarize islands in the South China Sea.
Among the issues that China is most likely to raise today and tomorrow are its concerns over the future of Taiwan.
As always in such meetings, China will object to any future arms sales to the nation and might also express worries about a potential victory by the Democratic Progressive Party in next year’s presidential election.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) said during a Washington visit earlier this month that cross-strait relations have improved since 2008 as a result of the so-called “1992 consensus” and the “one China” principle, referring to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese government that both sides acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation.
In a thinly veiled warning that was clearly aimed at the DPP, Zhang said that Beijing had the ability to deal with any move toward “the evil path of Taiwanese independence.”
Former US assistant secretary of state for East Asia Kurt Campbell said this week that China was heading into a period of domestic uncertainty and anxiety.
“Xi will likely strike a tougher stance to avoid any appearance of weakness or vulnerability,” he told the Washington Post.
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