WASHINGTON: The anticipated meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is scheduled to take place next week on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. However, the White House is not anticipating significant changes to the relationship between the two nations as a result of this face-to-face meeting, according to an individual familiar with the planning.
Late last month, the White House announced that the U.S. and China had reached an agreement in principle for President Biden and Xi to engage in an in-person meeting at the summit. This marks the first direct engagement between the leaders amid a year characterized by tension between the world’s two largest economic powers. As Biden prepares to arrive in San Francisco for the summit in a week, precise timing and logistical details have yet to be formally disclosed.
While the U.S. expects that the meeting will lead to some modest announcements, the underlying differences in the U.S.-China relationship are anticipated to remain largely unchanged. This assessment comes from a source who was not authorized to make public comments and spoke anonymously.
Jude Blanchette, Chair of China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, noted that Biden and Xi appear to be intentionally setting low expectations for the meeting. He explained that the meeting aims to facilitate a deep conversation where both sides can directly express their concerns. Additionally, it is expected that this meeting will create space for further constructive engagement, particularly within the Chinese system.
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Preparations for the upcoming San Francisco meeting have involved substantial efforts from both sides. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is scheduled to meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in San Francisco on Thursday and Friday, preceding the official commencement of the APEC summit on Saturday with finance ministers from member nations.
These high-level government officials’ meeting follows President Biden’s hour-long conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the White House late last month, coinciding with Wang’s visit to Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Notably, Xi had a meeting with Blinken in June when the Secretary of State traveled to Beijing for discussions with Wang.
Yellen last met her counterpart, He, during a visit to Beijing in July, where she urged Chinese officials to cooperate on global challenges, particularly in the realm of climate change, and encouraged the resolution of trade-related disagreements without derailing overall relations.
The last in-person meeting between Biden and Xi occurred almost a year ago on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. During this nearly three-hour meeting, Biden voiced his concerns about China’s “coercive and increasingly aggressive actions” regarding Taiwan and discussed various issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The already complicated U.S.-China relationship has further deteriorated since the Bali meeting. Differences have intensified, including U.S. export controls on advanced technology, the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon that entered the continental United States, and a visit to the U.S. by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen earlier this year, among other issues.
China views official American contact with Taiwan as encouragement for the permanent de facto independence of the island, a step not supported by U.S. leaders. While adhering to the “One China” policy, the U.S. recognizes Beijing as the government of China and does not maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, the U.S. has consistently emphasized the importance of Taipei as a significant partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
