US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for a high-stakes summit in California, aiming to reduce tensions between the two countries. The leaders greeted each other with a handshake and then engaged in closed-door talks on various issues including Taiwan, sanctions, and trade. Both leaders emphasized the importance of avoiding conflict and maintaining a strong relationship between the superpowers. Biden was scheduled to hold a solo press conference to discuss the summit’s outcomes.
Protesters with pro-Xi signs and Chinese flags lined part of Biden’s motorcade route, but the main objective of the summit was to restore predictability to US-China relations. The last time Biden and Xi met in person was in November 2022, and since then, tensions escalated after the US shot down a Chinese spy balloon earlier this year.
The talks took place against the backdrop of the ongoing struggle for global primacy between the United States and an increasingly assertive China. Taiwan was one of the sensitive issues discussed, with Biden expected to reiterate the US commitment to the “One China” policy while continuing to provide military aid to Taiwan. Human rights concerns, including the repression of the Uyghur Muslim minority, were also on the agenda.
Biden expressed a desire to improve the US-China relationship and emphasized that the US was not seeking to decouple from China. However, he also mentioned China’s “real problems” and highlighted his efforts to reestablish American leadership in the world. China responded by acknowledging that all countries face challenges but focused on positive talking points regarding the summit.
While major announcements were not expected, possible outcomes of the summit included the restoration of the military hotline between the two countries and cooperation to limit Chinese exports of fentanyl, an opioid drug causing problems in the US. The leaders were also expected to discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Ukraine war, and collaborate on addressing global warming.
Russia, seen as a partner of China in an authoritarian alliance by the US, welcomed the meeting and described it as important for everyone. Xi aimed to advocate for an end to trade curbs and sanctions, as China’s economy faced challenges due to its strict zero-Covid policy. After the summit, Xi was scheduled to host a dinner with US executives.
