China Talks

One of the largest and most senior Chinese delegations ever to come to the United States is in Washington this week for strategic and economic talks that will address national security issues.

Agenda items include “how both sides can maintain open investment policies” and “how the U.S. is going to protect national security . . . but at the same time, create a basis where Chinese companies can also come to the U.S. and create jobs in the U.S.,” a senior administration official told reporters last week.

The talks, being held today and tomorrow, will cover counterterrorism and nonproliferation as well as bolstering cooperation on regional security issues such as North Korea, Afghanistan-Pakistan and Iran. The agenda also includes global governance, health and infectious diseases, sustainable development, human rights, Tibet and the recent violence in China’s Xinjiang province.

China’s delegation is led by Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo. The State and Treasury Departments are leading the U.S. delegation, which also includes U.S. Pacific Command chief Adm. Timothy Keating.

“I think it's important to have Pacific Command in the room,” Keating told reporters last week. The two countries do not have a robust military-to-military dialogue right now, he said, but there’s “plenty of substance to discuss.” He said he hopes maritime security talks will be scheduled sooner rather than later.