Biden to focus on more open dialogue in big meeting with Xi Jinping and must send message to counter vast manipulation
By Mona Austin
Pres. Joe Biden is in San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and will meet with the leader of China, Xi Jingping at a nearby country estate there. The two men met last year and will be face-to-face for the first time since the tensions grew when the U.S. shot down Chinese spy balloons that impeded on U.S. airspace without clearance earlier this year.
In short, why this meeting is important: There is no shortage of disputes with China so why does the U.S. want to continue building relations with a know "frenemy" after they repeatedly tried to distance themselves from Washington? A Communist country, China is a country that requires the U.S. to practice a deeper level of interactions due to its tendency to violate trust. the communication unraveled when Nancy Pelosi, then House Speaker, paid a visit to Taiwan in 2021. Under the Biden Administration several U.S. officials have visited China to rebuild diplomatic ties including Sec. Of State Anthony Blinken.
The president has said he wants more competition with China, not conflict will invite more open communication in the meeting.
"Being able to pick up the phone and talk to one another if there's a crisis. Being able to make sure our militaries still have contact with one another," Biden told reporters at the White House he will focus on in his. "We're not trying to decouple from China, but what we're trying to do is change the relationship for the better."
According to a U.S. official, Biden and Xi are expected to announce an agreement that would restore talks under what's known as the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement AP reports.
As the heads of the world's two strongest economies both men have an interest in retaining competitive power but have expressed a desire to strengthen relations on common interests.
The U.S. continues to keep a close eye on Beijing over a vast list of adversarial issues. The strain in recent years has come from China breeching Biden's emails, maritime disputes, ties to Iran and its human rights violations and drug smuggling allegations. Regarding the latter, China has been accused of operating a fentanyl drug pipeline in Mexico where they ship the ingredients used the make the drug.
The two men are expected to cover the above issues and the wars in Ukraine and Israel, China's relations with Taiwan and other concerns but there must be a demand for more cooperation. What is the value of restoring relations with a country that has repeatedly displayed a lack of trust?
For Americans who are leery about China's global role and skeptical about its intentions toward the United States, there is an expectation that Biden will send the right message to hold China accountable for its wrong-doing. Republicans have long been critical of the United State's dependence on China and view the nation as a high-rick militaristic threat.
Arkansas Gov. Sara Huckabee Sanders is not open to doing business with China in her state. She has reclaimed land that China used in mid-October. She said, "For too long we've let these dangerous countries infiltrate our country." She banned 9 foreign parties from owning agriculture. Sengenta, a Chinese Agri-Chemical company was ordered to give up 160 acres used for seed research in North Arkansas. She said the company posed a clear threat to our national security.
With 2024 being an election year for Biden and two wars happening, his performance with any foreign leader is a barometer for his global affairs and his stamina to maintain America's high rank worldwide.