Unofficial exchanges soared ahead of Xi-Biden meeting to smooth path for talks in San Francisco

Wang Jisi, a Chinese expert on relations with the United States, was surprised to see that during his visit to the US, the word 'stability' was the main focus in conversations about the future of US-China relations. He noticed that people avoided talking about the relationship getting worse or better. Wang, who leads a research institute at Peking University, highlighted the importance of informal diplomacy, especially as the meeting between China's President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden approached. These secret talks, known as Track 1. 5 and Track 2 dialogues, allow non-government individuals to discuss difficult topics that could block official talks. Wang has always supported direct, unofficial communication between the two nations. He and an American colleague wrote a report encouraging the renewal of direct interactions after the global pandemic. They believe that open and honest discussions are necessary, even if they can be tough. However, many experts think that the relationship between the US and China will continue to face challenges, mainly because of a lack of trust and difficulties faced by non-governmental representatives. The increase in informal diplomacy has also been seen in Beijing's efforts to promote interactions through civilian and local channels. This includes welcoming influential Americans to China, such as Bill Gates and former US officials. Michael Pillsbury, a well-known critic of China, also visited Beijing and attended a forum where sensitive topics were discussed. He learned that China had not supported Russia's military actions, which was a surprise to him. Pillsbury, who has written about China's long-term strategy to become the dominant global power, mentioned that there are extreme views in the US that believe China wants to create a new world order. However, he doesn't think Chinese leaders are fully aware of these views. Suisheng Zhao, a professor at the University of Denver, expressed concern about the strong views in both Washington and Beijing, which seem to reinforce each other's tough positions. He believes that both countries need to find a way to understand each other better. Zhao participated in Track 2 dialogues and noted that it's difficult for non-governmental efforts alone to make significant changes in US-China relations, which still rely heavily on official engagements. He recalled the 'ping-pong diplomacy' of the past, which helped open up relations between the two countries, but pointed out that it was only successful because the leaders had already decided to improve ties. Zhao is worried that young American scholars have lost their personal passion for China and now see it as a rival. He also mentioned that it's harder to get a visa to China and that any criticism of Beijing could lead to being denied entry. Despite the challenges, Zhao hopes that various exchanges can help stabilize the relationship. Other experts, like Colin Bradford from the Brookings Institution and former US envoy Susan Thornton, believe that think tank meetings and Track 2 dialogues can keep communication open and prevent misunderstandings, even if they don't lead to immediate changes. Heiwai Tang from the University of Hong Kong shared his frustration with the growing barriers that prevent US academics from engaging in normal activities in China. He mentioned the difficulties in inviting US colleagues to Hong Kong due to strict university and IT department policies. Tang sees this as a negative trend that hinders the exchange of ideas. Wang Jisi remains cautious but not optimistic about the future of US-China relations. He doesn't expect the upcoming interactions between the leaders to be extensive but hopes that unofficial contacts will create a better atmosphere. He believes that cooperation and luck are needed for the relationship to improve.