The presidents of the United States and China, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping respectively, have met for the first time in person during their mandates this Monday in Bali (Indonesia) to define the terms of their rivalry, establish their mutual red lines and keep open the communication on key issues that keep them away from a possible confrontation.
The meeting began at 5:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. in Spain) in a luxury hotel on the paradisiacal island with a handshake and a smile with the flags of their countries in the background. "I'm glad to see you," she said in those brief moments before the Biden press. The meeting is scheduled to last two hours.
Already in the meeting room, the American asked his counterpart to find ways to work together to prevent the rivalry between the two superpowers from leading to a conflict. “Our two nations share the responsibility of managing their differences, we must prevent competition from turning into something resembling conflict. We must find ways to work together on urgent global issues that require our cooperation, ”he said from a table where he was flanked by several senior members of his administration, all of them wearing masks.
For his part, Xi replied that he is prepared for a "frank and in-depth" exchange of views on issues of strategic importance between the two. "As leaders of the two major countries, we must chart the right course for the US-China relationship," he noted.
The Chinese, whose companions also wore face masks, stressed that the current state of relations between the two attracts the attention of the whole world and that "we need to find the right direction for the bilateral relationship to advance and elevate it."
Number one on the priority list of issues to be discussed between the two will be the dispute over Taiwan. The US accuses China of trying to alter the status quo and increase tension in the area with a more aggressive stance towards the self-governed island, in whose surroundings Chinese demonstrations of military force have multiplied.
Similarly, Beijing blames Washington for fueling tensions with Biden's repeated comments about a possible intervention of US troops in case of aggression against the island or the controversial summer visit to Taipei by the president of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
“What I want to do with him when we talk is lay out what our red lines are, understand what he thinks are China's critical national interests, what I know are America's critical interests, and determine whether or not to enter in conflict. And if they do, how to solve it and how to fix it, ”explained the American before embarking on his Asian tour.
The US also announced that they will ask Xi for a "constructive role" to contain North Korea and its growing weapons tests and will press for Beijing to adopt a more forceful stance towards the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "We believe that all countries should do more to persuade Russia, especially those that have relations with it, to end this war and leave Ukraine," National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Saturday.
For his part, Xi is very likely to demand that his counterpart end the trade barriers that former President Donald Trump imposed on Chinese products (and that Biden has maintained). And that it reverse the latest prohibitions imposed by the White House to hinder Chinese access to the most modern semiconductors, key to technological progress in sectors such as Defense or supercomputers.
Both leaders arrive reinforced to the appointment. Biden fared better than expected in the US mid-term elections, and even confirmed yesterday that his party will retain the Senate. “I know that I am stronger,” he said yesterday from Cambodia, where he participated in a regional summit.
For his part, Xi has just renewed his post for a third term and has managed to fill the leadership of the Communist Party with close allies, becoming the most powerful Chinese leader in recent times.
