Biden-Xi meeting a good start, but more is needed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 14, 2023
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org

WASHINGTON, DC—Tomorrow, President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in San Francisco. Defense Priorities Director of Asia Engagement Lyle Goldstein issued the following statement in response:

“The Biden-Xi meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit is a most welcome development in a trend of thawing U.S.-China relations. The two leaders are unlikely to make major breakthroughs in this multilateral format, but reassurances from both on critical issues like Taiwan, the South China Sea, export controls, strategic stability, and even climate change could reduce tension. The dangers of war between the nuclear-armed superpowers mean leaders would be wise to arrest the deterioration of the relationship. Reviving military-to-military relations is far less than what’s required.

“On Taiwan, the U.S. can significantly lower major tensions across the strait by re-affirming Washington’s adherence to the One China policy and also stating clearly that the U.S. does not support Taiwan independence. Likewise, an approach consistent with realism and restraint in the South China Sea will emphasize the U.S. defensive alliance with the Philippines, while also encouraging Manila to do more for its own defense and making it clear the U.S. won’t be dragged to war with China over disputed rocks and reefs. Positive steps in other areas of the relationship will be welcome, of course, but such progress will depend to a large extent on mutual understanding in these two volatile conflict domains.

“To make genuine and lasting improvements in bilateral ties and steer the relationship away from militarized rivalry would, however, require not a brief meeting on the sidelines of a multilateral summit, but instead the sustained, high-level attention of an annual U.S.-China summit lasting at least two full days. A sincere diplomatic effort which an annual summit can foster should be the foundation of Washington’s responsible competition approach to Beijing.”

Author

Lyle
Goldstein

Director, Asia Program