Bipartisan House Delegation Visits China to Reopen Dialogue

A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation led by Rep. Adam Smith and including Reps. Ro Khanna, Chrissy Houlahan and Republican Michael Baumgartner traveled to Beijing — the first House visit since 2019 — to reopen lines of communication with Chinese leaders including Premier Li Qiang and Defense Minister Dong Jun. Smith warned that China is rapidly expanding its military and nuclear capabilities and said a lack of regular military-to-military talks risks dangerous miscalculations after recent close encounters between ships and aircraft. Lawmakers urged frank dialogue for basic de‑confliction as advances in AI, drones, cyber and space increase the potential for misunderstandings, and they pressed China on fentanyl flows and controls over rare earths. Chinese officials described the trip as “icebreaking” and a chance to remove “disruptive and restrictive factors.” The visit comes amid wider efforts to steady ties after recent presidential talks and ahead of planned Xi–Trump meetings at upcoming regional summits.