President Joe Biden recently concluded his final meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, marking the third and last time they have met during Biden’s presidency. This significant engagement took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Lima, Peru, and it highlighted the nuanced and often tense relationship between the two global powerhouses.
During this pivotal meeting, both leaders were expected to assess the current state of U.S.-China relations and manage the competition between their nations. U.S. officials emphasized the need for improved military communication, cooperation on issues like artificial intelligence, the opioid crisis, and climate change. These are all areas where both countries have considerable stakes and potential for collaboration but also significant disagreements.
One of the core issues discussed was Taiwan, which remains at the forefront of U.S.-China tensions. Just prior to this meeting, China had conducted military exercises simulating assaults on the island, which the U.S. views as provocative and alarming. The growing assertiveness of China concerning Taiwan presents one of the most pressing risks, not just for the U.S. and China but for global stability as well. Biden’s press team indicated he would raise concerns about China's support for Russia amid the Ukraine conflict, reflecting broader geopolitical concerns.
Interestingly, addressing cybersecurity threats was another topic on the agenda. The U.S. has accused China of hacking telecommunications firms, including claims of breaching networks associated with Donald Trump’s team and law enforcement agencies. Chinese officials refuted these claims, labeling them as disinformation and accused the U.S. of trying to frame China unfairly.
On the economic front, Xi Jinping sought to highlight China's investments and infrastructure projects throughout Latin America, positioning the region not as falling within the U.S.'s sphere of influence but as open for international partnerships. Xi has personally advocated for stronger ties with countries like Peru, where major investments are being initiated, such as the inauguration of what could become the second-largest port on the Pacific coast.
These investments, among others, have raised eyebrows back in the U.S., where officials worry about potential entanglements and the lack of transparency surrounding Chinese investments. Biden pressed Peru's leadership to avoid nontransparent deals, emphasizing the U.S.'s commitment to more open and responsible engagements.
With the impending transition to a new administration led by President-elect Trump, the stakes of the meeting were even higher. Trump, known for his aggressive stance against China, has proposed steep tariffs on Chinese goods, which could escalate tensions between the two nations and potentially usher the world back toward the kind of trade war seen during Trump's previous term. Some of Trump’s nominees, such as Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, have publicly called for tougher actions against China, which may lead to significant shifts in U.S. foreign policy.
Yet, amid these tumultuous discussions, there remains hope among U.S. officials for some elements of continuity from the Biden administration’s foreign policy. For example, the collaborative frameworks established between the U.S., Japan, India, and Australia—the Quad—and alliances with South Korea are seen as potentially resilient foundations to counteract China’s influence.
During their meeting, Xi Jinping reiterated China’s objective for maintaining stable relations with the U.S., indicating his readiness to work with Trump’s incoming administration. This suggests there might be potential openings for negotiations, albeit under the shadow of competition and mutual suspicion.
Despite facing shared challenges, including economic recovery post-pandemic, climate change, and pressing global security issues, both leaders expressed divergent strategies to address these matters. U.S. officials have prepared themselves for what they believe could be four more years of confrontational diplomacy.
Even with differences, Biden’s administration is hoping to establish some groundwork for managing these relationships effectively. Time will tell whether these efforts will create lasting partnerships or if they will merely serve as temporary patches on the complex and often fraught fabric of U.S.-China relations.
