Editor's note: Yuan Sha, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an associate research fellow at the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies, China Institute of International Studies. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, leading a bipartisan delegation of senators, arrived in Shanghai on October 7, marking the first stop of their trip to China. It also marks the first U.S. legislative visit to China in four years. It is also the latest high-profile visit following a string of high-level engagements between the two countries, which is expected to inject positive impetus to the China-U.S. relations.

U.S. diplomatic push to engage China

This delegation is the first legislative delegation to China since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The delegation is made up of a bipartisan group of senators, including Democrats Chuck Schumer of New York, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Jon Ossoff of Georgia, as well as Republicans Michael D. Crapo of Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy of Louisiana.

The delegation comes from a diverse background, but they share their concern and interest in China. They plan to meet with China's top government officials and the U.S. business community. According to the statement of the Senators' offices, the delegation seeks to address issues of concern with their Chinese counterparts, especially on trade, hi-tech, and national security issues. They would also seek to improve mutual understanding, reduce tensions, and tap areas where the two countries could cooperate.

This Senate visit builds on the momentum of recent high-level visits by the Joe Biden administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen, Climate Envoy John Kerry, and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. This U.S. diplomatic push to engage China indicates the urgency of increasing interactions between the two largest economies in the world, which have undergone periods of worsening tensions.

In fact, the Biden administration seems to have adopted a dual-track approach to China, with intense competition on the one hand and seeking channels of communication on the other hand in an aim to better manage the competition and prevent the most consequential relations from spiraling out of control.

Legislative diplomacy as an important channel

Legislative diplomacy is an indispensable channel of diplomacy between China and the U.S., and it is worth heightened attention.

As one of the three branches of the U.S. government, Congress enjoys several foreign policy powers entitled by the U.S. Constitution, including the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, declare war, and conduct investigations into foreign policy or national security concerns. The Congress is also wielding influence in foreign policy by enacting laws, passing resolutions, and conducting hearings. The U.S. Senate is particularly important as the President's power to make treaties and appoint diplomats is dependent on Senate approval.

Aside from serving as legislators, the senators are elected officials by their constituencies and represent the interests of voters in their home states. Thus, engaging with the legislature is crucial for understanding both U.S. politics and the U.S. public interest.

However, due to historical sentiment, geopolitical rivalry, and U.S. politics, being tough on China has become one of the few areas of bipartisan consensus. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in legislation related to China in Congress. This legislative process would grab the attention, set the agenda, and sway the political attitude of China. One of the most eye-catching legislative bills is Senator Schumer's "China Competition 2.0 Bill," which aims at forming together comprehensive and aggressive legislation to compete with China on all fronts.

Schumer's visit happens against the background of political turmoil on Capitol Hill, with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy ousted amid Republican infighting and Democratic Senator Robert Menendez stepping down as Senate foreign relations chairman after bribery charges. With the U.S. entering the 2024 Presidential election cycle, politicians across the aisle are resorting to the China-bashing tactic and competing to be tougher on China, which risks a race to the bottom on the China policy.

Amid heightened political polarization, the bipartisan delegation to China is commendable in itself, which would symbolize the unusual common interest of the Republicans and Democrats to manage and stabilize China-U.S. relations.

Given the importance of Congress in U.S. foreign policy, it is imperative to increase dialogue between the legislatures of the two countries. China remains open and welcomes engagements and exchanges with the U.S. government at various levels, which is the essence of the consensus reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Biden last December at their meeting in Bali. Renewed legislative diplomacy has contributed to a more objective understanding of each other and fostered a positive atmosphere for more tangible actions on both sides.

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