The meeting comes after months of speculation over whether the two leaders will meet at the world summit of the world’s most powerful governments. It will come when US-China relations have reached one of their lowest points in decades. Biden’s National Security Strategy has identified China as “America’s most important geopolitical challenge,” and the president has specifically criticized China’s efforts to “layer authoritarian rule with a revisionist foreign policy.” I pointed out that I was worried.
In a phone call with reporters, senior administration officials said the White House aide hoped the talks would be “substantial and detailed conversations” between the two leaders, but said no real progress had been made on key issues. He said he didn’t expect it. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said Biden would speak “honestly” about “many concerns” including longstanding human rights issues.
Instead, White House officials are urging Biden and Xi Jinping to understand each other’s priorities and establish a relationship “floor” to ensure lines of communication remain open in times of tension. Efforts and White House officials are watching.
The official added that the White House deemed it worth noting that President Xi issued a warning against the use of nuclear weapons, which was seen as a clear signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He urged Germany to pursue peace talks in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
After securing an unprecedented third five-year term, Mr. Xi is at a moment of great political power, concentrating power to a degree not seen since the days of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. He has also positioned his country defiantly in the West.
But Biden is also coming into the conference in a stronger position than most expected after Democrats beat expectations in Tuesday’s midterm elections, urging him to consider quitting the presidency after a term. It has helped curb the demands of the Democrats, who are
Biden on Wednesday was asked about his meeting with President Xi and what he hopes to get out of it.
“I’m not willing to make any fundamental concessions,” he said at a press conference, before citing some of his previous meetings with Chinese leaders.
“I told him: I’m looking for competition — not competition,” he said.
Biden said he hoped he could outline with Xi the lines of demarcation that are important to each country’s national interests, to determine if the two countries are at odds and how to resolve them. .
“I’m sure we’ll talk about Taiwan,” Biden said. “So we have a lot to talk about.”
Asked if he would specifically tell Xi that he was concentrating on defending Taiwan, Biden said: “I’m going to have that kind of conversation with President Xi.”
US-China relations have faced further tension in recent months after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California) visited Taiwan in August. A few days before Pelosi’s visit, Xi asked Biden to find a way to block the visit of the second chairman after the president. island.
After Pelosi’s visit, China said it would cancel or suspend dialogue with the United States on issues such as climate change, military ties and anti-drug efforts. US officials said at the time that China was punishing the world by suspending climate talks involving vulnerable countries in the Indo-Pacific.
But Biden has also made China nervous over the Taiwan issue with his own remarks. Biden has said on several occasions that the United States is prepared to defend Taiwan in the face of unprecedented attacks or aggression from China, but said he would not support independence for the island nation.
Viser reported from Washington. Ellen Nakashima of Washington contributed to this report.
