Editor TLN
First modification:
US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held their first meeting as heads of state on Monday, November 14. It is an attempt to reduce tensions between the two powers, in the run-up to the G20 summit that is taking place in Bali, Indonesia. The situation on the island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own, Russia’s war in Ukraine and Moscow’s nuclear threats are at the forefront of the talks.
China and the United States, two powers seeking to smooth things over as they compete amid rising economic and security tensions.
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first face-to-face this Monday, November 14, since the leader of the White House took office nearly two years ago.
Washington and Beijing should “take history as a mirror and let it guide the future,” Xi said during the meeting, quoted by the state news agency Xinhua.
The Chinese president’s remarks come at a time when relations between the two countries are at their lowest point in decades, marred by disagreements on a series of issues such as trade and the autonomy of the island of Taiwan, which the government Chinese claims as its own.
????? China’s President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden shake hands ahead of the G20 summit in Indonesia where the pair will hold their first in-person talks.pic.twitter.com/f8PNlsHhOt
— TLDR News Global (@TLDRNewsGlobal) November 14, 2022
Biden asked his Chinese counterpart to join efforts to prevent the rivalry between the two powers from leading to a conflict.
“As leaders of our two nations, we share a responsibility, in my opinion, to show that China and the United States can handle our differences, prevent competition from becoming close to conflict, and find ways to work together on pressing global issues. that require our mutual cooperation,” said the leader of the White House.
In this regard, President Xi Jinping appealed for sincere and open dialogue. “I am ready to have a frank and in-depth discussion on the issues of strategic importance to the China-U.S. relationship on all issues of global and regional importance,” Xi said.
It is unlikely that the meeting on Monday will produce a joint statement, the White House anticipated.
Taiwan, Ukraine and trade, at the center of the rivalry between Washington and Beijing
Xi and Biden met in the run-up to the G20 summit, in Bali, Indonesia, which begins on Tuesday, November 15, and will be charged with tension due to the invasion of Ukrainian territory, ordered by Vladimir Putin, a president who has been more close to the Asian giant, in recent years.
United by their shared mistrust of the West, Xi and Putin even reaffirmed their partnership just days before Moscow launched war against their neighbor. Beijing has largely refrained from publicly criticizing Russian hostilities, but has instead opted for direct support, such as supplying weapons to Moscow, something that could trigger Western sanctions against it.
Russia’s nuclear threats are also among the main issues that the two governments seek to address from this rapprochement.
The West has accused Moscow of making irresponsible statements about the possible use of atomic weapons amid the ongoing conflict. Russia, in turn, countered that Western nations feed “provocative” nuclear rhetoric.
In addition, Washington and Beijing recently escalated their clashes over the status of Taiwan.
The autonomous island has become one of the most contentious issues between the United States and China. Under his presidency, Biden has said his country would defend that territory, which Beijing is considering for eventual unification, in the event of an invasion.
Tensions escalated further when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last August, prompting Xi Jinping’s government to retaliate with military exercises and the launch of ballistic missiles in nearby waters.
The two world powers are also at odds on issues ranging from international trade to human rights.
Proof of this is that the Biden Administration blocked exports of advanced computer chips to China last month, a national security measure that strengthens the United States’ competition against Beijing, but was quickly condemned by Chinese officials.
As president, Biden has repeatedly rebuked China for human rights abuses against the Uyghur people and other ethnic minorities, the crackdown on Hong Kong democracy activists and coercive business practices.
Faced with the range of disagreements, Xi said he hoped he and Biden would “chart the right course for the China-US relationship” and was ready for a “frank and in-depth exchange of views.”
Meanwhile, White House advisers have repeatedly tried to downplay any notion of conflict between the two nations, stressing that they believe the two nations can work on shared challenges like climate change and health security in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19.
But relations have grown more strained under successive US administrations, as economic, trade, human rights and security differences have come to the fore.
With Reuters, AP and EFE
