Breakthroughs or Modest Achievements? Biden-Xi Bilateral During Apec Summit

Joe Biden, the President of the US, and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are to meet on November 15 in the San Francisco Bay area, according to two senior administration officials. The encounter will be their second face-to-face meeting during the Biden presidency.

The bilateral will take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apex) Summit, with numerous key issues expected to grab the spotlight, US officials said, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, Ukraine war, Taiwan and election interference.

Biden’s Most Urgent Request Will Be For China To …

Relations between the US and China deteriorated earlier this year. Washington accused Beijing of sending a spy balloon across its airspace, with an American warplane eventually shooting it down. There was also a visit to Taiwan last year by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan. While Xi may ask for reassurances that the US does not support Taiwanese independence, Biden could highlight American concerns over controversial activities around the island and the South China and East China Seas.

But Biden’s most urgent request will be for China to restrain Iran by using what influence Beijing has to warn it against escalating violence in the Middle East in response to the Israel-Gaza war, that has been raging on for the past 35 days while claiming countless lives on either sides.

Analysts predict the Summit may result in some modest achievements. But neither side is expecting any breakthroughs. China blames the deterioration in ties on the US, and Xi made that clear in March, said Jude Blanchett of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

“There Is A Dark Force In Washington” – Global Times

Multiple US media outlets have reported Xi will also attend a private dinner with US business executives following his meeting with Biden. According to the New York Times, guests can sit at the Chinese president’s table for $40,000. Ticket sales start at $2,000 per person.

Ahead of the visit, Chinese state media outlet Global Times in a November 8 editorial noted “there is a dark force in Washington that is undermining US-China relations,” putting the responsibility on Biden to “overcome and eliminate disruptions”.