In their last meeting, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told President Biden that his country was “ready to cooperate with the new administration” as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take over. .
two leaders gathered on Saturday This will be the first direct meeting between the two countries on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference. what they had in Northern California last November. Biden is expected to urge Xi to discourage North Korea from further supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The White House said in a statement that Biden also “expressed deep concerns” to Xi about China’s “continued support for Russia’s defense industrial base.”
Xi did not mention President Trump by name, appearing to express concern about the president-elect’s protectionist rhetoric. in the middle of a campaign There is a possibility that US-China relations will fall into a new trough.
“China is ready to work with the new U.S. administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation, manage differences, and strive for a steady transition in Sino-U.S. relations for the benefit of the two peoples,” Xi said through an interpreter. “There is,” he said.
Leah Millis/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Biden, meanwhile, spoke in broad strokes about the future of the relationship, reflecting not only on the past four years but also on their long relationship.
“Over the past four years, China-US relations have experienced ups and downs, but they have generally achieved stability, with both countries taking the initiative and engaging in fruitful dialogue and cooperation,” he said.
Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi, flanked by their entourage, gathered around a long rectangular table in a vast conference room at the Defines Hotel and Conference Center in Lima.
According to the White House, during the meeting, Biden and Xi both were in favor Resuming high-level military-to-military communications. This comes after all U.S. military commanders in the Indo-Pacific region had a video call with China’s People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Commander in September, the first such call in several years.
Mr. Biden also mentioned: China and Taiwan tensionssaid the White House. Xi I’ve been claiming for a long time That Taiwan, autonomous democracybelongs to China and the Chinese military. frequently Conducting exercises around Taiwan in a show of force.
“The United States opposes any unilateral change to the status quo by either side, we look forward to cross-strait differences being resolved by peaceful means, and the world is committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Biden said. “The White House reiterated that China is interested in Taiwan,” the White House said, “and called for an end to China’s destabilizing military activities around Taiwan.”
On the other hand, there is a high degree of uncertainty regarding the future of US-China relations under the Trump administration. A person who conducted a promising election campaign impose a 60% tariff Regarding imports from China.
Bobby Javaheri, president of Los Angeles-based Idi Houseware Appliances, which manufactures products in China, told CBS News. In this week’s interview Such tariffs “would devastate our business, but not just our business. It would devastate all the small businesses that depend on imports.”
President Trump also proposes stripping China of most-favored-nation trading status, phasing out imports of essential goods from China, and banning China from purchasing U.S. farmland.
Already, many American companies, including Nike and eyewear retailer Warby Parker, are diversifying their sourcing away from China. shoes brand steve madden The company announced plans to cut imports from China by up to 45% next year.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden administration officials have told the Trump team that dealing with intense competition from China is likely the biggest foreign policy challenge it faces. He said he would advise.
This is a major milestone for Biden, marking the end of more than 50 years in politics. He considered his relationship with President Xi to be the most important one on the international stage and devoted great effort to nurturing it.
Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi first met when they traveled to the United States and China when both were vice presidents, and both said their interactions left an unforgettable impression.
“You and I have spent a lot of time together for more than a decade, here and in China and in between, and we have spent a lot of time addressing these issues,” Biden said Saturday. I think I’ve come,” he said.
But the past four years have been filled with a steady stream of difficult moments.
The FBI this week revealed new details in its federal investigation into the Chinese government’s hacking efforts against U.S. telecommunications networks. Initial findings revealed a “widespread and significant” cyber-espionage campaign aimed at stealing information from Americans working in government and politics.
U.S. intelligence officials also say China is ramping up sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology used by Russia to make missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weapons used in its war against Ukraine. It is evaluated that it is
And tensions escalated last year following Biden’s orders. shot down A photo of a Chinese reconnaissance balloon flying across the United States.
