A high-stakes meeting amid rising tensions
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet in person for the first time since Biden took office in 2020. The summit, scheduled for Wednesday, November 15, 2023, will take place in California on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. The meeting comes at a time when relations between the two superpowers have deteriorated over a range of issues, including trade, human rights, cybersecurity, and Taiwan.
The summit is seen as a rare opportunity for the two leaders to establish a personal rapport and to communicate their expectations and concerns to each other. Both sides have said they hope to avoid conflict and to cooperate on areas of common interest, such as climate change, global health, and nuclear non-proliferation. However, they have also acknowledged that there are fundamental differences and disagreements that are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.
Biden has said that his goal for the meeting is to get US-China communications back to “normal” and to lay out “what each of our red lines are”. He has also said that he is not willing to “make any fundamental concessions” about the US policy on Taiwan, which he has repeatedly vowed to defend in the event of a Chinese invasion. Xi, on the other hand, has said that Taiwan is “at the very core of China’s core interests” and “the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations”. He has also warned that China will not tolerate any interference in its internal affairs or any attempts to contain its development.
Taiwan top of the agenda for the two leaders
Taiwan is expected to be the most contentious and sensitive issue on the agenda for the summit. The self-governing island, which China claims as its own territory, has been the subject of increasing military and diplomatic pressure from Beijing in recent months. China has conducted frequent air and naval exercises near Taiwan, violating its airspace and maritime zone. It has also stepped up its efforts to isolate Taiwan internationally, poaching its diplomatic allies and blocking its participation in global forums.
The US, which has a longstanding but unofficial relationship with Taiwan, has responded by increasing its support for the island’s security and democracy. It has approved several arms sales to Taiwan, conducted joint military exercises and patrols in the region, and sent high-level officials to visit Taipei. It has also reaffirmed its commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act, which obliges the US to help Taiwan defend itself against any threats. The US has also coordinated with its allies and partners, such as Japan, Australia, and India, to counter China’s assertiveness and to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The summit will be a chance for Biden and Xi to clarify their positions and intentions on Taiwan and to explore ways to reduce the risk of miscalculation or escalation. Both sides have said they do not seek war, but they have also shown no signs of backing down from their respective stances. The US has urged China to refrain from any coercive or provocative actions toward Taiwan and to engage in peaceful dialogue with the island’s authorities. China has demanded that the US stop interfering in its internal affairs and abide by the one-China policy and the three joint communiqués, which form the basis of the US-China diplomatic relations.
Trade and technology: A new phase of competition and cooperation
Another major topic for the summit will be trade and technology, which have become the main drivers of competition and cooperation between the US and China. The two countries have been locked in a trade war since 2018, when the Trump administration imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods, citing unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft. China retaliated with its own tariffs and countermeasures, leading to a prolonged and costly dispute that hurt both economies and global growth.
Biden has largely maintained the tariffs and the tough stance on China, but he has also signaled his willingness to negotiate and to address some of the longstanding grievances of the US business community. He has appointed a new trade representative, Katherine Tai, who has said that she will review the existing trade policies and seek a “durable and balanced” relationship with China. She has also said that she will work with China on issues such as climate change, public health, and the reform of the World Trade Organization.
Technology is another area where the US and China have clashed and competed, as both countries vie for dominance and innovation in sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing, and 5G. The US has imposed strict export controls and sanctions on Chinese tech firms, such as Huawei, ZTE, and TikTok, citing national security and human rights concerns. It has also tried to persuade its allies and partners to exclude Chinese technology from their networks and markets. China has accused the US of abusing its power and of trying to stifle its technological development. It has also invested heavily in its own research and development and launched initiatives such as the Made in China 2025 plan and the Digital Silk Road.
The summit will be an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities of trade and technology and to find ways to balance competition and cooperation. Both sides have expressed their interest in expanding trade and investment, resolving disputes, and setting rules and standards for emerging technologies. However, they have also acknowledged that there are fundamental differences and divergences in their values and interests that will limit the scope and depth of their collaboration.
Human rights and democracy: A source of friction and criticism
Human rights and democracy will also be on the agenda for the summit, as they have been a source of friction and criticism between the US and China. The US has condemned China’s policies and actions in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, and other regions, where it says China has violated the human rights and freedoms of its own people and undermined the rule of law and autonomy. The US has imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on Chinese officials and entities involved in these issues, and has supported the efforts of the international community to hold China accountable.
China has rejected the US accusations and interference, and has accused the US of hypocrisy and double standards. It has also criticized the US for its own human rights problems, such as racism, police brutality, gun violence, and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also retaliated with its own sanctions and countermeasures, and has tried to rally support from its allies and partners, such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
The summit will be a chance for the two leaders to exchange views and to express their concerns and expectations on human rights and democracy. Biden has said that he will raise these issues with Xi and that he will not shy away from speaking out for the values and principles that the US stands for. Xi has said that he will defend China’s sovereignty and dignity and that he will not accept any interference or pressure from the US or any other country. Both sides have said that they respect each other’s political systems and development paths, but they have also made clear that they will not compromise on their core interests and values.
A critical moment for US-China relations
The summit between Biden and Xi is a critical moment for US-China relations, which have reached a historic low point in recent years. The meeting is expected to be candid and constructive, but not conclusive or transformative. The two leaders will not announce any major breakthroughs or agreements, but they will try to establish a stable and predictable framework for managing their complex and competitive relationship. They will also try to identify areas of common interest and potential cooperation, such as climate change, global health, and nuclear non-proliferation.
The summit will not resolve the fundamental differences and disagreements between the US and China, but it could start the process of building guardrails to prevent competition from turning into conflict. It could also set the tone and direction for the future of US-China relations, which will have profound implications for the regional and global order.
