Biden Aide Calls on Beijing to Address Iran’s Support for Houthis’ Attacks

During talks in Thailand, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan urged Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to use China’s influence with Iran to ease tensions in the Middle East. The discussions, which took place on Friday and Saturday in Bangkok, followed up on previous discussions between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November in California. These talks occurred in the wake of a ruling-party candidate winning Taiwan’s recent presidential election, which was opposed by Beijing, and the resumption of dialogue between U.S. and Chinese military officials. The meetings also took place amidst ongoing attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, which pose a threat to global shipping in the Red Sea.

According to a senior U.S. official, Sullivan emphasized China’s economic leverage over Iran and the destabilizing effect of the Houthi attacks on international commerce. While China has publicly called for lower tensions, it remains uncertain whether Beijing is using its diplomatic influence to pressure Tehran on this issue. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that Sullivan and Wang’s private conversations were not authorized to be publicly discussed.

In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that Wang emphasized Washington’s commitment not to support independence for Taiwan. Wang maintained that the recent election in Taiwan, won by Lai Ching-te, the current vice president, does not change China’s position that the island is part of its territory. The ministry’s statement highlighted the issue of “Taiwan independence” as the biggest challenge in U.S.-China relations.

While President Biden has stated that he does not support independence for Taiwan, U.S. law requires a credible defense for the island and treats all threats to Taiwan as matters of “grave concern.”

The timing of the next conversation between Biden and Xi remains uncertain, but officials hope it will take place in the coming months. Wang and Sullivan previously met in Malta and Vienna last year before the Biden-Xi meeting in California.

In November, both sides reached modest agreements to combat illegal fentanyl and reestablish military communications, which prevented the deterioration of the U.S.-China relationship. The U.S.-China Counternarcotics Working Group is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Tuesday, focusing on the manufacture of fentanyl and its precursors in China.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has shown its disapproval of political activities in Taiwan by sending military planes and ships. Taiwan’s defense ministry reported that China sent over 30 warplanes and a group of navy ships towards the island within a 24-hour period, including 13 warplanes that crossed the unofficial boundary of the Taiwan Strait.

Wang also emphasized that China and the U.S. should reflect on past experiences and treat each other as equals, rather than adopting a condescending attitude. He suggested using the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to strengthen their relationship.

Apart from discussing cross-strait issues, Sullivan and Wang also addressed the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Middle East, North Korea, the South China Sea, Myanmar, and progress in holding a dialogue on artificial intelligence between U.S. and Chinese officials this spring.

Sullivan emphasized the need for both the U.S. and China to prevent their competition from escalating into conflict or confrontation. The White House summarized the meeting, highlighting the importance of maintaining peace and cooperation between the two countries.