Staff Reports
In a surprising turn of events, President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping finally met face-to-face after an entire year of radio silence. The goal of the meeting was to reduce tensions and improve communication between the two superpowers, and it took place at the Filoli Estate, a country house and museum located just south of San Francisco, where the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation group was gathering.
This marked the seventh interaction between Biden and Xi, but their first since their meeting in Bali, Indonesia, back in November of last year. According to a senior White House official, there had been no phone calls or communication of any kind between the two leaders since then, which has contributed to the deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and China.
THE ONLY THING THEY DISCUSSED IS HOW MUCH OBIDEN IS GOING TO GET PAID UNDER THE TABLE AND WHAT HE HAS TO DO TO GET THE CASH!
Biden, Xi stress communication to thaw tensions between U.S., Chinahttps://t.co/lFSNB4LHQO
— Tod (@TodRevolution) November 16, 2023
This strained relationship has been exacerbated by a series of incidents, including the Biden administration shooting down a Chinese spy balloon over the United States, disagreements over Taiwan, and Chinese hackers stealing 60,000 emails from a senior State Department official. It’s safe to say that tensions between the two superpowers are at an all-time high.
During their meeting, Biden and Xi stressed the importance of communication and understanding between the two countries. Both leaders acknowledged that there have been challenges in the U.S.-China relationship over the past 50 years, but emphasized the need to continue moving forward and avoid conflict. However, signs of lingering tension were apparent, as the two leaders did not release a joint statement after the meeting and Biden held a solo press conference instead of taking questions alongside Xi.
The Biden administration had hoped that this meeting would pave the way for future communications between the U.S. and China, but it remains to be seen whether any significant progress was made. While the two leaders did agree to take steps to curb fentanyl production and restore military communications, there are still numerous issues that need to be addressed, including Iranian influence in the Israel-Hamas conflict, Chinese misinformation operations, human rights violations, artificial intelligence, trade, and climate change.
On the domestic front, this meeting carries political risks for Biden, who is seeking reelection and is currently the subject of an impeachment inquiry related to his family’s business dealings with China. Republicans have been highly critical of Biden’s approach to China, accusing him of appeasing the communist nation and putting America’s interests second. They are demanding results from the meeting and warn that any empty-handedness on Biden’s part would be seen as a win for the Chinese Communist Party.
In the end, it remains to be seen how this meeting will impact the U.S.-China relationship and whether it will lead to any meaningful change. However, it is clear that tensions between the two superpowers have reached a boiling point, and the outcome of this meeting will have significant implications for both countries and the rest of the world.
