Upcoming Meeting between President Biden and President Xi Jinping
President Joe Biden is set to meet with President Xi Jinping of China on Saturday during a global summit in Peru, as confirmed by White House officials on Wednesday. This meeting represents a crucial opportunity for Mr. Biden to directly address key issues with the Chinese leader, including cyber hacking, military threats against Taiwan, human rights abuses, and China’s support for Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
This will mark the first in-person interaction between the two leaders since their summit in California a year ago, which both sides characterized as the beginning of a pathway towards improved diplomatic relations. This thaw in relations followed a period of heightened tensions, particularly after Mr. Biden’s decision in early 2023 to shoot down a Chinese spy balloon that had traversed U.S. airspace.
Administration officials have indicated that Mr. Biden is expected to confront President Xi regarding these contentious issues while also emphasizing the importance of restoring direct communications between the two governments, particularly their military channels. Mr. Biden has consistently aimed to stabilize what he terms the most consequential relationship in the world, advocating for healthy competition rather than outright conflict.
However, the backdrop of this meeting is complicated by the impending inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, who has pledged to adopt a significantly more aggressive stance towards China. This includes implementing substantial tariffs on Chinese products entering the U.S. market. Analysts predict that this shift could usher in a period of increased volatility and tension between the two leaders.
During his visit to Peru for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Mr. Biden will hold his meeting with President Xi before embarking on a brief visit to the Amazon region, followed by participation in the Group of 20 (G20) summit of world leaders in Rio de Janeiro. White House officials have noted that Mr. Biden will also explore and discuss areas of cooperation that have proven successful over the past four years in his dialogue with the Chinese leader.
