US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and top China diplomat Wang Yi to meet in Thailand

Chinese foreign ministry confirms that talks are going ahead, with Wang to be in Bangkok from January 26-29
News of meeting comes as Beijing voices “deep concern about the recent rapid escalation of tensions in the Red Sea”

US-China relations

Igor Patrickin Washington

Published: 7:50am, 26 Jan 2024

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America’s national security adviser is on his way to Thailand to meet China’s foreign minister for two days of discussions that will reportedly focus on the Middle East, a move that builds on pledges by the two sides to strengthen bilateral engagement.

The meeting between Jake Sullivan and Wang Yi will build on “a commitment by both sides [by presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden during their summit in November] to maintain strategic communication and responsibly manage the relationship”, according to a White House statement on Thursday.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Friday that the new round of talks had been “discussed and agreed by China and the US” and that Wang Yi would be in Thailand from January 26-29.

Sullivan is expected to raise recent Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea with Wang Yi, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier in the day.

The two officials are heading to Bangkok at the invitation of the Southeast Asian country’s Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, according to Wang Wenbin.

Beijing enjoys friendly relations with Tehran, and the Iran-backed Shiite militia group has defended its actions as retaliation for Western support of Israel in its war with Hamas.

Washington has sought to put pressure on China to halt Iran’s logistical, military, and financial backing of the Houthis, who seized control of Yemen following a coup in 2014. Tehran is considered the armed group’s most important international supporter.

News of the high-profile meeting came to light after The Financial Times disclosed on Wednesday that the US had “repeatedly” raised its concerns with senior Chinese officials over the past three months.

On Tuesday, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby made clear that Washington hoped Beijing could play a bigger role with Tehran.

“China has influence over Tehran,” Kirby said. “They have influence in Iran. And they have the ability to have conversations with Iranian leaders that … we can’t.”

“We would welcome a constructive role by China, using the influence and the access that we know to try to help stem the flow of weapons and munitions to the Houthis.”

Both Sullivan and his deputy, Jon Finer, discussed the threat posed by the Houthis with Liu Jianchao, head of the Chinese Communist Party’s international department, during his visit to Washington in early January.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also broached the possibility of China using its influence over Iran with Wang Yi, according to The Financial Times. However, the US has yet to see any substantial evidence that Beijing is pressuring Tehran.

On Wednesday, Wang Wenbin, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, voiced Beijing’s “deep concern about the recent rapid escalation of tensions in the Red Sea”.

He called for a stop to disturbing “civilian ships” and urged all parties involved to refrain from “adding fuel to the fire”.

Beijing’s plea came on the same day the US Navy announced that two American-flagged ships had been attacked by Houthi rebels in the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

The Maersk Detroit and Maersk Chesapeake were targeted by “three anti-ship ballistic missiles”, according to the United States Central Command. The container ships were carrying cargo for the State and Defence departments.

As a result, the vessels were diverted to the Gulf of Aden, located off the coast of Oman.