Biden-Xi summit: 5 pain points that persist beyond 'blunt talks'

China calls Joe Biden's Xi Jinping dictator comments 'extremely wrong'

Opening of a presidential hotline, resumption of military communication, efforts to curb fentanyl production and possible dialogue on artificial intelligence risks were among the issues that US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed on on November 16.

The leaders of the world's two biggest economies adopted a less contentious tone during their second in-person summit on the outskirts of San Francisco, signalling a shift in the relationship between the United States and China.

While the four-hour-long talks, which included a walk in the woods, suggest a willingness to engage on specific issues, the relationship is hardly a walk in the park as deeper disagreements prevail amid a complex and changing geopolitical grid.

Despite characterising the meeting as the most productive to date, Biden maintains his belief that Xi is a dictator. This statement by Biden highlights the persistent tensions and differences in views between the two leaders.

The two leaders discussed various thorny issues, including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The success of these agreements will be closely monitored in the context of the broader US-China relationship.

The two countries are on opposite sides as far as these conflicts grow. China has never missed a chance to flaunt its close ties with Russia, while the US  and its western allies have provided arms, ammunition and huge moral support to Ukraine after Russian forces attacked the neighbouring country in early 2022.

While the US has backed Israel's right to defend itself following the October 7 attack by Hamas, China has spoken openly in favour of Palestine and has been critical of Israeli military action.

Also Read: Joe Biden again calls Xi Jinping a dictator, showing limits of cooperation

Notably, the strategic rivalry between the US and China, initially manifested as a trade war, escalated further in 2022 with Washington implementing export curbs on semiconductors and AI.

The two nations' economic interests have often collided, underscoring the multifaceted nature of the competition and the challenges in navigating the complex relationship between them.

Biden though expressed optimism, saying "We made real progress," in a tweet. He described the conversations as "some of the most constructive and productive" the two nations have had.

Biden's optimism is likely to be tested, not too far in future, particularly due to disagreements over a Taiwan election and Chinese navy actions against ships from the Philippines, a US ally.

Washington and Beijing also have divergent views on the Israel-Hamas war. Biden, facing re-election next year, may encounter political scrutiny at home from Republicans who argue he is being lenient on Beijing, according to a report in the WSJ.

The Chinese readout emphasised that "turning their back on each other is not an option" for the two countries. It conveyed the message that there is ample space in the world for both the US and China to achieve success.

Also Read | Xi-Biden meeting: Five takeaways of China and US dialogue amid global tensions

Plus, "The US side should... stop arming Taiwan, and support China's peaceful reunification," Xi told Biden, several media reports mentioned citing a readout from China's foreign ministry.

Xi conveyed to Biden that China does not aspire to "surpass or unseat the US", emphasising the expectation that Washington should refrain from attempting to "suppress and contain China".

Beijing has announced plans to restrict the export of chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has contributed to a deadly drug epidemic in America. This move is part of efforts to address the global illicit drug trade and respond to concerns raised by the US regarding the flow of fentanyl-related substances.

During the press conference, Biden praised Xi for being forthright in their talks but did not explicitly state that he trusted the Chinese leader. Biden invoked the phrase “Trust but verify,” indicating a cautious approach where trust is established but ongoing verification is necessary.