US-China Relations
Biden-Xi Summit
Chinese government propaganda hailed the meeting
between presidents Biden and Xi in San Francisco on
15 November as a “historical milestone” in Sino-US
relations, claiming that Xi reached at least three
objectives:
- Stabilizing China-US relations after a year
of deterioration.
- Proposing his so-called “San Francisco Vision”
framework for future China-US relations, which would
rest on five “pillars”
- Develop the right perception of each other.
Xi said “China is committed to having a stable, healthy, and sustainable relationship with the US. At the same time, China has interests that must be safeguarded, principles that must be upheld, and red lines that must not be crossed. We hope that the
two countries could be partners that respect each other and coexist in peace.”.
- Manage differences and disputes. Xi said
the countries should “calmly handle their
differences, as well as accidents.”
- Advance mutually beneficial cooperation.
- Undertake joint responsibilities as
major countries.
- Promote more academic, cultural, and local
government exchanges.
Highlighting the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue.
Xi said, “China will realize reunification, and
this is unstoppable.
International observers noted differences in US
and Chinese summit press releases:
- The US press release did not address Xi’s
“San Francisco Vision” but said Biden “emphasized
that the United States and China are in competition,
noting that the United States would continue to
invest in the sources of American strength at home
and align with allies and partners around the world... the world expects the US and China to manage competition responsibly to prevent it from
veering into conflict, confrontation, or a new
Cold War..
- The Chinese release said Xi told Biden that
China “has no plan to surpass or unseat the United
States. Likewise, the United States should not scheme to suppress and contain China.” Xi emphasized, “For China and the United States, turning their back on each other is not an option.
It is unrealistic for one side to remodel the
other. And a conflict and confrontation have
unbearable consequences for both sides.”
- The Chinese release did not mention that
the two leaders exchanged views on the Ukraine
war and Israel-Hamas conflict or that Biden
reaffirmed commitments to defend US allies in the
Indo-Pacific region and freedom of navigation and
overflight in the South China and East China seas.
- The Chinese release did not mention concerns
Biden expressed about China’s unfair trade practices.
- The US press release said Biden raised China’s
human rights issues and illegal detention and exit
bans of Americans; the Chinese release did not mention these subjects.
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