From Capitol Hill to Beijing: Rare Congressional Delegation Signals Thaw in Bilateral Ties

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From Capitol Hill to Beijing: Rare Congressional Delegation Signals Thaw in Bilateral Ties

In a week marked by both diplomatic overtures and strategic maneuvering, U.S.–China relations took several notable steps forward. Reports from major U.S. Chinese‑language outlets, including Sing Tao Daily and Voice of America Chinese, highlight two intertwined developments: a rare visit by U.S. lawmakers to Beijing and a breakthrough proposal on the future of TikTok’s U.S. operations.To get more news about us chinese newspaper, you can citynewsservice.cn official website.

The congressional delegation, led by Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, met with Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun in what observers describe as the first House of Representatives visit to China since 2019. The talks focused on reopening military‑to‑military communication channels, a priority for both sides amid years of strained relations. Dong welcomed the visit as a “good” step toward strengthening dialogue, urging the removal of “interfering and restrictive factors” that have hindered cooperation.

This diplomatic engagement followed a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which both leaders discussed a range of contentious issues—from trade disputes and semiconductor export controls to maritime activities in the South China Sea and Taiwan. The conversation also touched on the fate of TikTok, the Chinese‑owned social media platform whose U.S. operations have been under intense scrutiny.

According to White House officials, a proposal is now on the table to move TikTok’s U.S. business into a joint venture headquartered in America, with a majority‑American board of directors. U.S. cloud giant Oracle would act as a security guarantor, ensuring that the app’s prized recommendation algorithm is “fully inspected and retrained” using U.S. user data, and kept separate from any Chinese influence. The arrangement, if finalized, could satisfy national security concerns while preserving TikTok’s presence in its largest market.

Chinese‑language media in the U.S. have framed the TikTok deal as emblematic of a broader willingness to find pragmatic solutions. Sing Tao Daily noted that Xi Jinping has signaled openness to visiting the United States “at an appropriate time,” while Trump has hinted at extending the current trade truce. These gestures, while modest, suggest both sides are seeking to stabilize relations ahead of upcoming multilateral forums.

Still, the road ahead is far from smooth. Analysts quoted in Voice of America Chinese caution that even with a TikTok agreement, deep structural tensions remain. Trade imbalances, competing technological ambitions, and divergent security priorities continue to challenge the relationship. The U.S. Congress has maintained a firm stance on issues such as Taiwan’s security and human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, embedding these concerns into defense authorization legislation.

The symbolism of the congressional visit should not be underestimated. In the wake of the COVID‑19 pandemic, formal exchanges between the U.S. House and Chinese officials had ceased, replaced by mutual recriminations over the virus’s origins and other geopolitical disputes. The resumption of face‑to‑face dialogue, even in a limited form, signals a recognition that sustained communication is essential to managing competition responsibly.

For Chinese‑American communities, these developments carry particular resonance. U.S. Chinese‑language newspapers serve as a bridge, translating complex geopolitical shifts into narratives that connect with readers’ lived experiences. Coverage often blends hard news with cultural context, reflecting the dual identity many in the diaspora navigate—rooted in Chinese heritage yet deeply engaged with American civic life.

The TikTok saga, for example, is not merely a story about technology policy; it is also about cultural exchange, generational identity, and the politics of trust. For younger Chinese‑Americans, TikTok is a platform for creativity and community. For policymakers, it is a potential vector for foreign influence. Reconciling these perspectives requires nuanced solutions that go beyond binary choices of ban or allow.

As autumn approaches, the diplomatic calendar offers several opportunities for further engagement. Trump and Xi are expected to meet on the sidelines of a forum in South Korea at the end of October, with reciprocal state visits tentatively planned for early next year. Whether these encounters yield substantive progress will depend on the willingness of both governments to balance domestic political pressures with the imperatives of global stability.

For now, the twin headlines—lawmakers in Beijing and a TikTok deal in motion—capture a moment of cautious optimism. In the words of one Sing Tao Daily editorial, “Even small steps can change the direction of a long journey.” The coming months will reveal whether these steps mark the beginning of a sustained path toward cooperation, or merely a brief pause in an ongoing rivalry.

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