Bipartisan House Lawmakers Plan First Official Visit to China Since 2019 Amid Rising Tensions

A delegation of lawmakers from the House of Representatives is slated to embark on an official trip to China this month, the first since 2019. The visit comes at a time of increasing political and economic strain between the U.S. and China, following a meeting of leaders from China, Russia, and North Korea that coincided with a military parade in Tiananmen Square.

The trip, organized by Rep. Adam Smith, the current leading Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, has not been reported widely until now. Smith confirmed the delegation's plans and noted that both Democratic and Republican members of the committee would participate, although Chairman Mike Rogers will not join them. Emphasizing the importance of dialogue, Smith asserted that communicating with China does not equate to endorsing its actions. He expressed a desire for more frequent discussions between the two major powers.

While it's unclear whether the lawmakers will meet with President Xi Jinping, there are already some high-level U.S.-China conversations underway. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently connected with his Chinese counterpart through a video call, with both sides agreeing to continue discussions. Pentagon officials clarified that the U.S. does not seek conflict with China but reiterated its commitment to protect vital interests in the Asia-Pacific.

Details about the upcoming visit remain confidential, with even some senior committee members unaware of its planning. The House will be on recess for the week of September 22 and, while the CODEL will stop in Cambodia, Taiwan is not part of the itinerary. Amid ongoing trade negotiations, which have seen delays in tariff implementations by the Trump administration, Smith underlined the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to address differences with China.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, official House visits to Asia have largely focused on U.S. allies like Taiwan and Japan. In contrast to the upcoming delegation, past trips by Senate members—like those led by Chuck Schumer—have included direct dialogue with Xi on essential topics such as trade and public health issues. The political landscape has shifted dramatically, with visits such as Nancy Pelosi’s controversial trip to Taiwan in 2022 drawing strong reactions from Beijing and escalating tensions further.