Biden – You marked X

By Athena Papakosta

It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the US president took office in January 2021. It lasted three and a half hours and proved to be enough to put an end to fears of a new Cold War.

Biden and Xi have known each other for at least ten years. The two were greeted with a handshake in front of Chinese and American flags. “I’m so glad to see you,” Biden told Xi before they set off. “I’m glad to see you, too,” replied his Chinese counterpart, shaking his hand.

Both leaders were well aware that no one on the entire planet would want to see the two leaders reach an impasse that would threaten global stability. A responsible attitude is in the interest of both countries. Biden and Xi prefer a strong competition which they certainly cannot avoid.

As China strengthens as a global player, it will threaten the United States. These are two superpowers that compete and will continue to compete vigorously for the world order. The aim is the final dominance on the geopolitical and economic front.

“We will compete vigorously but we do not seek conflict,” the American president said in a press conference he gave alone. “China-US relations should not be a zero-sum game in which one goes up and the other goes down,” explained Chinese leader.

For Beijing, the current time period is a moment that needs attention since the geopolitical balances lack… balance. So Xi Jinping appeared smiling but concrete, explaining that this world includes both China and the US.

“I’m convinced that he understood what I was saying, and I understood what he was saying,” said Biden, realizing that understanding is a one-way street.

“I absolutely believe that there will not be a new Cold War,” the US president said, with his Chinese counterpart stressing that “the world expects China and the US to be able to manage their relationship responsibly.” It is, after all, a complex and therefore difficult relationship.

Red lines became visible early on at the negotiating table. Thus, the hot topic of Taiwan emerged as a key point of discussion between the two superpowers. China’s Xi was clear, “anyone who seeks to separate Taiwan from China will violate the fundamental rights of the Chinese nation. The Chinese people will not allow this to happen.”

For his part, Joe Budden, speaking to reporters after the summit meeting, emphasized that Washington’s policy on the issue of Taipei has not changed, adding that “I don’t think there is any imminent attempt by China to invade Taiwan.”

The US president said the two leaders agreed to set up a mechanism to facilitate dialogue at key levels of government to resolve issues with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken preparing to visit China soon.

This is a positive development after the two leaders met to find common ground, re-found their relationship – which was at a nadir after Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last August – and fit their interests into the global chessboard. The profits of the meeting were small but still profits.

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