After talks, it's time to take more important steps

Whenever officials from China and the United States meet, world leaders take note. There have been positive exchanges, most notably the San Francisco vision that came out of the conversations between President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in November of 2023. And there have been negative exchanges, the most unfortunate being the manner in which Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke during meetings in Alaska in early 2021.

The most recent dialogue between officials from the two countries should be placed in the positive category. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan wrapped up solid talks with President Xi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and General Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, while he was in Beijing a few days ago.

The talks focused, as expected, on issues germane to both countries: the Taiwan question, the South China Sea issues, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and more. Though there were no major breakthroughs on these thorny topics, the reality is both sides clearly understand the positions the other side holds. Neither side is asking the other to abandon their principles; rather, there is quiet confidence that on issues with significant agreement, such as combating climate change and fighting off the next pandemic, more bilateral talks can be had and ideas can be shared.

As the US presidential election occurs in roughly two months and as President Biden is not seeking re-election, it is incumbent on him to advance US-Chinese relations before either former president Donald Trump or Vice-President Kamala Harris enters the Oval Office in January 2025.

Recognizing that, the Chinese president affirmed his country's "commitment to the goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-US relationship remains unchanged". Meanwhile, Sullivan indicated that President Biden remains "committed to responsibly managing this consequential relationship to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict".

Indeed, words matter, and so domestic and international audiences should continue to hold the administration to account: If the White House wants a relationship that "does not veer into conflict", then there are some important steps that can be taken now, and these actions would send a message to whomever replaces Biden that they ought not to be abandoned.

Ditching the onerous tariffs Washington has placed on Chinese products would be a wise first move. Tariffs do not work. According to the Tax Foundation, the tariffs initiated by former president Trump and then expanded upon by President Biden "will reduce long-run GDP by 0.2 percent, the capital stock by 0.1 percent, and employment by 142,000 full-time equivalent jobs". The foundation adds that the tariffs amount to "an average annual tax increase on US households of $625".

Trump and Biden insist that tariffs are protecting the US people and helping the US economy. The data tell a much different story. Worse, Trump has promised to add even more tariffs, should he again become president.

Abandoning provocative military exercises in the South China Sea would also send a positive signal that the US wants cooperation and not confrontation. US political and military officials argue that such exercises are needed because they allow the US and its regional allies to prepare for any aggressive actions that China might take. Yet the evidence is clear: China is not seeking military conflict — on land, sea or air — in the region or elsewhere.

A recent article in the respected magazine The Diplomat reviewed one aspect of Chinese military operations — overseas bases. The authors suggested Washington would be wise to "avoid over-investing in preparations for a near-term contest" with China that would begin from one of those bases. They added that much of the hype about the Chinese and their military plans seems woven into a convenient narrative that the country is a threat and therefore, preparations for conflict must be made. Such rhetoric is useful because it justifies "otherwise nonessential missions, force structure, and capabilities for parts of the department that feel left behind in the focus on China".

Washington also should ensure that Chinese scholars and students face no hostility when they enter the country. The disgraceful way these Chinese citizens were treated upon arrival in the US late last year drew international headlines and a stinging rebuke from Beijing. Some students were held for hours as officials unfairly questioned them about their families and any connections to the Chinese military. Other students were immediately deported. Such actions absolutely contradict the US' belief in opening doors to scholars and students from other countries.

Viewed another way, shortsighted tariffs, illogical military rhetoric and embarrassing treatment of the Chinese people are the equivalents of strike one, two and three. In baseball, that means the batter is out. In international politics, it means new strategies should be introduced.

The author is department head and an associate professor in the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania, the United States. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.