Following the first official meeting between US and Chinese officials in the Biden administration, the National Committee on American Foreign Policy convened a group of high-level experts on US-China relations to discuss the following questions in a series of Track II VTCs:
- What are the opportunities and challenges in restoring diplomacy and communications in the coming year?
- How should the United States and China manage potential regional flashpoints?
- How can the United States and China cooperate on areas of overlapping interest and manage competition?
Participants debated the path forward on US-China relations given the previous four years of poor communication during the Trump administration. Would the two countries find a new modus vivendi or will great power competition dominate bilateral narratives?
While the conversation ultimately concluded that the two sides are more likely to adjust existing policy than pursue a major realignment, there is still an urgent need and significant support for restoring basic and regular communication, reaffirming prior commitments, and repairing damage to people-to-people ties.
For a full record of the discussions, including key takeaways and policy recommendations, please click here to read the report.