Signs of temporary stabilizing of Sino-US relations merit cautious optimism as platform to build: China Daily editorial

China and the United States have accelerated their climate and trade exchanges after US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's visit to Beijing late last month and the Joe Biden administration's postponement of its determination on the Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports.

US climate envoy John Podesta and US Under-Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago came to Beijing for talks at the end of last week, with both speaking positively about their discussions with their Chinese counterparts, which were focused on concrete exchange programs and cooperation projects that are conducive to continuously expanding the common interests between the two sides in these two areas.

In the field of trade, the two sides agreed to provide necessary support for their respective trade and investment promotion activities, and maintain communication in the fields of cross-border data flows, inspection and quarantine, healthcare and women's health, medical devices and clean energy. They also agreed to continue to promote cooperation projects between Chinese and US enterprises and set up project offices, and strengthen cooperation under the G20, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and other mechanisms.

That indicates, despite some recent moves of the US side targeting Chinese electric vehicles and green products, Washington has been heeding the calls of the US business community and allies urging an end to its decoupling tactics targeting China.

Although no concrete results were forthcoming, as was expected, which is natural given the wide implications of the emerging technology, that they also engaged in their second round of talks on AI in early August, focusing on a solution-oriented approach to concrete problems, three months after the two sides presented their respective principles and stances in the first exchange of views, shows the promising momentum of the bilateral discussions in this regard.

Adding to the positive vibes, according to the US embassy in China, the "Indo-Pacific" command chief will have talks with the head of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army on questions of common concerns soon, which may help cool down the situation in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. This is widely perceived to be a fruit of Sullivan's visit, during which he talked with Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia with both sides agreeing to a theater commander telephone call in the near future.

In the same vein, the US is planning to send Michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defense, to China's annual Xiangshan security forum from Thursday to Saturday. Chase is more senior than the US representative who attended the event last year, and his rank is on par with historical norms for Pentagon representatives attending the forum.

In light of these developments in Sino-US ties, the Chinese side has expressed cautious optimism, as it recognizes they are motivated by the upcoming US presidential election. While the Joe Biden administration wants to be seen as being tough on China to win votes for the Democratic Party's candidate, Vice-President Kamala Harris. It also wants to ensure the Chinese side does not misinterpret that toughness as a real attack, so as to prevent Sino-US ties from veering into real conflict.

Nonetheless, the improvement in the relationship can help maintain a dynamic stability on the whole, even if that should prove only temporary. How the Sino-US relations will fare will not become clear until the dust of the US election settles down.