- Biden-Xi summit confirmed.
- Agenda, challenges, and expectations.
- Focus on US-China relationship.
Joe Biden and Xi Jinping will meet next week in San Francisco, according to two high administration sources.
Their November 15th encounter will constitute only the second in-person confrontation throughout the Biden administration.
US officials have stated that the agenda will be extensive, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, Taiwan, the Ukraine conflict, and election interference.
Diplomatic Challenges and Past Incidents
Earlier this year, relations between the two nations began to deteriorate.
China was accused of flying a spy balloon over its territory, which a US warplane shot down off South Carolina.
Additionally, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last year prompted China to sever military communications between the two countries.
US officials stated that Mr. Biden is “determined” to restore those channels, whereas China appeared “hesitant” to do so.
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One of the officials stated, “This is not the relationship we had five or ten years ago. And we are not discussing a lengthy list of deliverables or outcomes.”
The primary objectives at hand are competition management, risk and conflict prevention, and maintaining open lines of communication.
The Biden-Xi bilateral is scheduled to occur from November 11th to the 17th, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, which is being hosted by the United States in San Francisco.
Taiwan and Regional Concerns
Taiwan is probable to be the foremost subject of interest for China when it comes to dialogue. It asserts sovereignty over the self-governing island, the elections for which are scheduled for early next year.
Mr. Xi might request further assurances that the United States does not endorse the independence of Taiwan. Senior administration sources expect Mr. Biden to underscore U.S. concerns over Beijing’s military manoeuvres near Taiwan.
Talks will also cover US technology export restrictions to China and Beijing’s South China and East China Sea claims.
Beyond these fundamental differences concerning trade and competition, Mr. Biden’s foremost and most pressing demand will be for China to exercise its influence in discouraging Iran from intensifying hostilities in the Middle East as a retaliatory measure against the Israel-Hamas conflict.
High Hopes with Modest Expectations
Analysts anticipate that the summit could potentially yield modest outcomes, such as the reestablishment of military communications or the restriction of the flow of Fentanyl manufactured in China.
However, neither party anticipates any significant developments that would fundamentally alter the relationship. Rather, the focus will be on effectively managing and stabilizing it.
The Chinese attribute the strained diplomatic relations to the United States. This was made abundantly clear by Mr. Xi in March, when he accused the United States of “encircling, containing, and suppressing China,” according to think tank Jude Blanchett of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the US, lauded recent improvements but called for guarantees.
At the Hong Kong Forum on US-China relations, he stated that Beijing desires “assurance that the United States does not seek to alter China’s system, does not seek a new Cold War, does not support Taiwan independence, and has no intention of decoupling from China.”
The Biden administration asserts that it is attempting to counter China’s belligerent disregard for international norms.
However, it has worked diligently to defuse tensions since the balloon crisis, dispatching three cabinet members. Including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to Beijing since June.
Mr. Blinken abruptly cancelled a February visit, calling China’s spy balloon deployment “unacceptable and irresponsible.”
But when the mission ultimately proceeded in June, he and Mr. Xi engaged in what he termed “an animated discussion.” The summit has been achieved through the implementation of practical diplomacy.
According to US officials, their diplomats have unsuccessfully brought up the necessity of resuming military dialogue in “virtually every conversation” with their Chinese counterparts over the past year.
One official stated that the spy balloon incident “comes up frequently” when discussing the communications ban.
The official further stated, “I believe the balloon incident highlighted the difficulty we faced at the time in establishing high-level, consequential communications with Beijing.”
“And we’ve made that case persistently and consistently.”
Following the February incident, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called off an unexpected visit to Beijing, deeming China’s purported surveillance balloon flight over the United States “unacceptable and irresponsible.”
However, the mission proceeded in June, and Mr. Blinken and Mr. Xi engaged in what he termed “a robust discussion.” The summit has been achieved through the implementation of practical diplomacy.
After seeing Mr. Biden, US media outlets report that Mr. Xi will lunch with US business titans in San Francisco.
According to the New York Times, the Chinese president’s table costs $40,000 (£32,800). Admission begins at $2,000 per individual.
A spokesperson for the National Committee on US-China Relations, one of the dinner’s organizers, confirmed that a “extremely senior” Chinese official is scheduled to attend the event; however, he declined to disclose whether or not it was Mr. Xi.
Ahead of the Xi-Biden meeting, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng this week to discuss economic cooperation between the two nations.
The editorial of the Chinese state-run Global Times claimed that Mr. Biden was obligated to “overcome and eliminate disruptions” between the United States and China prior to the visit.
An editorial dated November 8 stated that a shadowy force in Washington is actively undermining relations between the United States and China, and their activity increases as the situation becomes more critical.
