In his last meeting with Joe Biden, recent US leader Xi Jinping has pledged to work with receiving president Donald Trump.
In what appears to be a text to Donald Trump and the incoming administration in Washington, leader Xi also used the opportunity to express China’s goals.
Beijing claimed that President Xi had resolutely emphasized that” a new Cold War should not be fought and cannot be won” in a thorough reading of the conference that was released following. Containing China is irresponsible, unethical and destined to fail”.
Moreover, Xi cited the importance of maintaining a stable relationship between China and the US as both important to both parties and the universe.
On Saturday, the two met on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC ) summit in Peru, where they acknowledged “ups and downs” in bilateral relations following Biden’s four-year term.
Speaking at Saturday’s conference, which was held at President Xi’s resort in Lima, the president said that if the US and China” treat each other as opponents or enemies, engage in cruel competition and common harm, China-US relations will endure setbacks or even regressions”.
He added that Beijing’s commitment to maintaining a stable relationship with Washington may continue and that he would work with the new US administration to “maintain communication, increase cooperation, and control differences.”
Biden, however, said strategic competition between the two world power does not escalate into battle.
” Our two countries ca n’t allow this conflict to escalate.” That is our duty and over the past four times I think we’ve proven it’s possible to own this relationship”, he said.
Both leaders praised progress being made in reducing conflicts in areas like Taiwan and industry.
According to experts, US-China connections could become more tense when Trump takes office in two decades, as a result of factors like Trump’s pledge to raise tariffs on Chinese imports.
The president-elect has pledged 60 % taxes on all imports from China. Additionally, he has appointed well-known Chinese eagles to posts in defense and foreign affairs.
During his first term, Trump labelled Beijing a “strategic competitor”. Relations worsened when he labelled Covid a “Chinese virus” during the pandemic.
Biden’s time in office did see flare-ups in relations with China, including a spy balloon saga and displays of Chinese military firepower around Taiwan triggered by the visit of a senior US official.
China claims that its ownership of the island’s self-government is unacceptable.
But, the Biden administration aimed to “responsibly control” rivalry with Beijing after Trump’s first name.
Beijing is likely to be most concerned about the president-elect’s uncertainty, experts say.
” The Taiwanese are ready to negotiate and package, and likely hope for first engagement with the Trump team to explore possible purchases”, said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific Program.
” At the same time, however, they are ready to retaliate if Trump insists on imposing higher tariffs on China”.
She added that China may be concerned that its lack of trustworthy backdoors could have an impact on Trump’s policies.
Biden said on Saturday that his conversations with Xi had always been “frank” and” candid,” but that they had also been “frank.”
During Biden’s time in office, the pair held three face-to-face meetings, including a significant summit in San Francisco last year, where both sides reached agreements on combating narcotics and climate change.
But Biden’s White House also continued Trump-era tariffs. His government imposed duties in May targeting China’s electric cars, solar panels and steels.
In an effort to combat China’s growing assertiveness in the region, he also strengthened defense alliances throughout Asia and the Pacific. The incoming president added that if Taiwan were invaded by China, the US would support its defense.