US-China bilateral relations have been spiraling down the rabbit hole for decades, and it hit the lowest point when US House speaker Nancy Pelosi paid a visit to Taiwan in August this year. China had set into a military exercise around Taiwan right after, firing missiles over the country.
US president Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for a 3-hour-long session on Monday, ahead of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, to discuss ongoing socio-political tensions between the nations. This was their first in-person meeting since the US president took office in 2020.
It was an anticipated meeting with high stakes attached as the two leaders carried a candid conciliatory conversation to convey their intentions and priorities to each other and find common grounds to work together on shared challenges affecting the international community. Over the course of an almost 180-minute meeting, they covered issues encompassing the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the political unrest in Taiwan, human rights, climate change, trade, etc.
The Dance of the Dragon around Taiwan
US-China bilateral relations have been spiraling down the rabbit hole for decades, and it hit the lowest point when US House speaker Nancy Pelosi paid a visit to Taiwan in August this year. China had set into a military exercise around Taiwan right after, firing missiles over the country.
In a statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry, it was affirmed that Xi had posed a warning that Taiwan remains China’s core interest. Taiwan was posed as a ‘red line’ that is not to be crossed in US-China relations.
Biden stated that Taiwan policy has not changed at all from the US’s perspective in the press conference held after the meeting, as Washington sought a harmonious resolution to the turmoil. Biden was to pledge that the US has no intention to support the independence of Taiwan, nor does it have any motive to use Taiwan against China. Biden was sure that the US was not venturing into a conflict and that there was no urgency for a cold war. There stands no risk of any impending attempt by China to invade Taiwan.
A Washington-Beijing zero-sum game
The US also addressed their concerns about the whims and fancies of China, to which Jingping mentioned their aloofness to change any international order in existence or interfere in international matters affiliated with the States. China does not intend to question, challenge, or displace the United States. Xi mentioned that the world is big enough for both nations to co-exist and prosper pragmatically. There can essentially be a zero-sum game between the countries where they fix each other’s crowns and call it even. The leaders settled that neither of the nations shall try to reshape the other into their own image nor try to change or undermine either’s system.
Taking a stand on the Russia-Ukraine conflict
China has been highly concerned about the stifling situation in Ukraine, with Xi advocating peace as an option. Both nations restated their agreement on the discouragement of the use of nuclear weapons as there can be no winners budding out of a nuclear war. Peace talks shall be resumed soon between Russia and Ukraine. A foreign office statement from China hoped the US, NATO and EU shall hold peace talks with Russia shortly.
Jong-Un Land
President Biden had asked President Jinping to make an effort to talk North Korea out of recommencing nuclear testing. He had warned Xi that the States would go to any extent, even enhancing military presence in the region to defend itself and confidants South Korea and Japan as and when Jong-Un’s nation resumes testing nuclear weapons, a practice in halt since 2017. However, Biden seems to question Beijing’s ability to control Pyongyang.
Joint Action against Climate Change
The Taiwan crisis led China to thaw global communications on climate change. On Monday, November 14, the nations decided to set aside their differences and resume their collaborative climate activities. As the COP27 climate negotiators await G20 nations to boost their cash commitments, this resumption came just in time.
The Presidents have hereafter agreed to maintain regular communication through their Cabinets and have instructed their respective teams to follow up and implement the common understandings derived between them.