Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng emphasized the importance of dialogue and negotiation in managing China-US relations during a meeting with Evan Greenberg, executive vice-chair of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, in Beijing on Monday. He Lifeng reflected on the agreement reached at last month's summit between Chinese and US heads of state in Washington, highlighting their shared commitment to building a constructive bilateral relationship grounded in strategic stability, respect, fairness, and reciprocity. The vice-premier called for coordinated efforts to enhance certainty and stability in economic and trade cooperation, which he said would also benefit the broader global economy.

Greenberg acknowledged the significance of stable Sino-US relations and expressed the Committee’s willingness to serve as a bridge to foster increased economic exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. Reinforcing the need for mutual understanding, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning addressed recent US concerns over Chinese maritime activities east of Taiwan. Mao stated that China’s operations in the area fall within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, asserting these activities are fully within China’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction. She added that China has not instigated disruptions in the region, and reiterated that the Taiwan issue is an internal matter for China, which should not be subject to external interference. Mao urged the US to adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, handle Taiwan-related matters prudently, and take tangible steps to uphold regional peace and stability.

In a notable development on US policy toward China, Kurt Campbell, a veteran diplomat and former “Asia tsar” under the Joe Biden administration, described China as a country that “needs to be engaged actively” rather than contained. Campbell, known for his role in shaping the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and technology restrictions aimed at China, said that containment is not a viable strategy in an increasingly multipolar world. His remarks suggest growing acknowledgment in Washington that confrontational policies risk exacerbating tensions, while engagement offers a more promising approach to manage bilateral and global challenges.

Addressing the sensitivity around Taiwan, both Chinese officials and Campbell highlighted the potential dangers of miscalculations. Chen Xi, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense, expressed the Chinese military’s readiness to cooperate with the US to implement the consensus reached by their leaders, strengthen communication and manage differences responsibly. Chen emphasized a desire to promote steady and sustainable development of military-to-military relations, aiming to inject positive momentum into the overall China-US relationship.

Campbell’s assessment underscores a broader call within some US policymaking circles to pursue dialogue, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence in order to avoid the so-called Thucydides Trap—a theory describing the risk of conflict between a rising power and an established one. The evolving discourse reflects an awareness that the Taiwan question remains a core and delicate issue in China-US relations, requiring careful handling to maintain regional and global stability.