It will be the first meeting in a year. US President Joe Biden and China’s head of state Xi Jinping have announced talks. That’s what it’s going to be about.
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet next Wednesday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in California. The White House announced this on Friday in Washington. The two have not met in person for a conversation since the 2022 G20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia. Relations between the world’s two largest economies have long been very tense.
A serious trade conflict, US sanctions against companies from China and a Chinese spy balloon over the USA caused trouble. Beijing’s stance in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is also met with criticism because China appears neutral to the outside world, but at the same time is considered Russia’s most important partner and thus provides Moscow with support.
The issue of Taiwan in particular harbors great potential for conflict. The island republic, which is only separated from China by a strait, has had a democratic government for decades. However, Beijing sees the country with more than 23 million inhabitants as part of its territory. The area is often the scene of military demonstrations of power. There are concerns that China could invade Taiwan like Russia invaded Ukraine. Biden has assured Taiwan of military support, including from US troops, in such an event. Beijing, in turn, prohibits any American “interference” in “internal” affairs.
Meetings with China had been looming for months
The White House said the two leaders wanted to discuss bilateral issues, the importance of maintaining open channels of communication and a range of regional and global issues.
The meeting between the two presidents was preceded by numerous meetings between high-ranking government members from both sides. Biden sent, among others, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to China. Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan met China’s chief diplomat Wang Yi in Vienna and Malta. Wang Yi finally traveled to Washington at the end of October. All of this was in preparation for a meeting of presidents.
High-ranking US government officials dampened expectations in advance. A list of results is not to be expected. “This is really about managing competition, reducing the risk of conflict and ensuring that communication channels are open.” The aim is to stabilize relationships.
