The Rekindling of China-US Relations: Xi Jinping and Joe Biden Meet Amidst Geopolitical Tensions
Edited by Agnibeena Ghosh
One year since their last face-to-face discussions, President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden are scheduled to convene in San Francisco on November 15th, reuniting at the Apec summit. The anticipated encounter between the Chinese and US leaders will cast a substantial shadow over the summit proceedings as both nations strive to stabilize their relations within an increasingly strained geopolitical landscape.
This high-stakes meeting, potentially spanning several hours, is the culmination of months of preceding dialogues at lower diplomatic levels, with Washington dispatching more envoys to China during the summer compared to Beijing’s emissaries to the US.
Xi Jinping’s inaugural visit to the US in six years signifies a gesture of goodwill from the Chinese side. Among various engagements, Xi is slated to address a dinner hosted by the National Committee on US-China Relations and the US-China Business Council, where tickets start at $2,000. The Chinese president’s speech to the US-China business community will underscore his eagerness to entice foreign enterprises back to China, a pursuit complicated by factors such as the prolonged period of zero-Covid policies and recent scrutiny of foreign consulting firms. Additionally, mounting US restrictions on engaging in business with China, particularly in high-tech sectors, have added to the apprehensions of international firms.
Promptly following Xi’s meeting with Biden on November 16th, sweeping restrictions concerning the export of advanced technology to China are set to take effect. These regulations, a reinforcement of controls introduced the previous year, aim to curtail China’s access to cutting-edge semiconductors crucial for the development of sophisticated artificial intelligence.
Shen Dingli, an international relations scholar based in Shanghai, highlights the potentially detrimental impact on China’s electronics industry should the United States persist in restricting China’s access to high-end chips. He anticipates semiconductors will be a key area of concern for the Chinese delegation.
Criticism has been directed from analysts on both sides of the Pacific regarding the Biden administration’s decision to maintain tariffs on approximately $370 billion worth of Chinese imports, originally imposed by the Trump administration.
As the two global powers prepare to engage in discussions, tensions loom large over critical issues such as trade, technological competition, and economic relations. The outcome of this meeting holds significant implications not only for bilateral relations but also for the broader geopolitical landscape, shaping the future course of interactions between China and the United States.
News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh 15th November 2023
