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U.S. officials are optimistic that an upcoming meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will help thaw the frosty relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Scheduled on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) in San Francisco, the meeting is expected to focus on re-establishing military communication and combating illicit fentanyl trafficking, marking the first direct dialogue between the leaders in a year amid growing global tensions.
The Biden-Xi bilateral meeting is poised to be the highlight of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, emphasizing trade, investment, and economic development among Pacific nations. This meeting comes after a year-long hiatus in direct communication between the two leaders, last seen at the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia. The intervening period has seen escalated tensions, particularly following the downing of a Chinese spy balloon over the U.S.
The relationship between China and the United States, as the world's leading economic powers producing nearly 40% of global goods and services, holds significant global implications. The current frosty relations have raised concerns about the impact on global economic stability and development, an Associated Press report has said.
While U.S. officials have set modest expectations for the meeting, emphasizing the need for routine communication, there is an undercurrent of hope for substantive progress. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan highlighted the potential for shared goals to be achieved through “intense diplomacy,” according to AP.
Among the key objectives is the reestablishment of military communications, which have deteriorated, especially since the pandemic. This communication is crucial for maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific region and managing the rising number of incidents between the two nations’ military forces.
The U.S. views its military relationship with China as essential to prevent missteps and ensure peace in the Indo-Pacific region. This need has become more pressing as China intensifies its militarization efforts in the Pacific, including controlling the South China Sea. Meanwhile, China has voiced objections to U.S. military activities in the western Pacific and economic sanctions. However, recent interactions, such as a conference call between the militaries on the search for American POW and MIA remains, signal potential for improving relations.