Biden and Xi’s Summit Looms: High Hopes for US-China Talks

• Biden and Xi may meet at APEC summit in San Francisco
• No official confirmation from the White House yet
• China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan

US President Joe Biden is anticipated to hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month, potentially during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, an event that gathers global and business leaders.

Although the White House hasn’t officially confirmed the Biden-Xi meeting, a statement following a meeting between China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that both sides are actively working towards a meeting.

Xi and Biden have not crossed paths since their attendance at the G20 summit in Bali last year. The discussions between Wang and Sullivan were part of a three-day visit to Washington, DC, where the Chinese foreign minister met with Biden and key US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing did not immediately confirm the trip but acknowledged that discussions regarding the often-turbulent relationship between the two countries took place.

During his meeting with Biden, Wang conveyed China’s commitment to enhancing and stabilizing its relationship with the US, emphasizing the principles of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation,” as reported by Chinese state media. Similar sentiments were expressed during his meeting with Blinken on Thursday, according to Xinhua.

Middle East role?

The two parties also had substantial geopolitical matters to discuss, including the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the upcoming presidential election in Taiwan early next year.

While China has stated its neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, it has faced accusations of supporting Russia’s economy in the face of extensive Western sanctions.

In the Middle East, there is hope that Beijing, due to its strong ties with both Israel and Arab states, could play a more conciliatory role.

The United States is providing military support to both Israel and Ukraine. Historically, it has also attempted to facilitate peace agreements between Palestine and Israel.

There is now an opportunity for both countries to potentially collaborate in de-escalating the situation in Gaza, where Israel has threatened a ground invasion.

This point was raised during the meeting between President Biden and Wang, with the president emphasizing the need for the United States and China to cooperate in addressing global challenges, as stated in a White House announcement.

The U.S. has expressed interest in improving bilateral relations and has emphasized the need for “guardrails” to prevent disagreements from escalating into military conflicts.

Bilateral relations had deteriorated during the administration of President Donald Trump, marked by a trade war with China. Tensions have persisted since President Biden took office in January 2021, with issues ranging from Hong Kong and Taiwan to allegations of espionage and semiconductor sanctions.

Meetings between Xi and U.S. officials, such as Blinken in Beijing in June and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier this month, may suggest a positive trajectory in the relationship.

Despite potential cooperation in the Middle East, Washington and Beijing remain at odds over Taiwan, a self-governed democracy that China’s Communist Party claims as part of its territory.

Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, is scheduled to hold elections in early January, an event that typically draws a strong response from Beijing.

Beijing has historically sought to influence the election’s outcome through various tactics, including online misinformation campaigns and military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, a reminder that it has not ruled out using force to take the island.

China conducted two rounds of exercises in the past 14 months, one following a visit by then-House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August 2022 and another after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s unofficial trip to the U.S. in April.

A military conflict between China and Taiwan could potentially involve the U.S., which has pledged to assist Taiwan in its defense, although it has not committed to deploying troops.

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