Title: Biden set to press Xi Jinping on renewing US-China military communications
In a bid to stabilize relations between the two superpowers, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum next week. The leaders will convene in the San Francisco Bay area, marking their second in-person meeting as leaders.
One of the key topics on the agenda will be the need to revive communications between the US and China’s militaries. US officials stressed the importance of restoring these essential channels of communication, which were shut down by China last year following a visit to Taiwan by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The leaders are also expected to discuss rising tensions over issues such as Chinese military activity near Taiwan and US efforts to limit China’s access to advanced American technology. While the meeting does not signify a change in US policy towards China, it reflects the necessity for intense diplomacy to manage tensions and prevent competition from escalating into conflict.
U.S. officials are particularly concerned about what they referred to as “dangerous” and “provocative” Chinese military activity around Taiwan, highlighting the heightened tensions in the region. Biden is expected to emphasize the importance of restoring communication channels in order to manage and prevent potential conflicts.
The meeting comes at a time when US-China relations are at their worst state since the countries normalized diplomatic ties in 1979. The summit also presents an opportunity for the two leaders to address issues such as fentanyl exports from China and US efforts to restrain Chinese military modernization.
Efforts to stabilize relations and reduce the likelihood of a military conflict between the two powers were stalled earlier this year when a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over the US. The upcoming meeting in San Francisco offers a crucial opportunity for the US and China to address ongoing issues and work towards stabilizing their relationship.