At APEC 2024, Chinese leader Xi tells Biden ‘ready to work’ with Trump | Political Affairs

Chinese President Xi Jinping held his last meeting with his outgoing counterpart in the United States, Democrat Joe Biden.

But Xi’s remarks on Saturday appeared to be directed not only at Biden but also at his Republican successor, returning President Donald Trump.

In his meeting with Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru, Xi stressed the importance of the US and China maintaining “mutual respect”.

Although Xi did not mention Trump by name, he gave a nod to the incoming US president’s victory in the November 5 election.

“The United States just finished its elections. “China’s goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable relationship between China and the US has not changed,” Xi said.

But, he warned, “If we treat each other as rivals or enemies, pursue vicious competition and want to harm each other, we will destroy our relationship or even reverse it.”

Trump, who previously served as president from 2017 to 2021, has overseen a period of heightened tensions with China, including a trade war sparked by his imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods.

China has responded with its own tariffs and trade restrictions, although experts have warned that the escalation on both sides is hurting both countries’ economies.

On Saturday, Xi appeared to extend a hand of friendship to Trump, encouraging their countries to work together for mutual benefit.

“China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage tensions to strive to change the relationship between China and the US for the benefit of the two peoples,” he said.

The theme of the main campaign

Trump has renewed his “America First” philosophy as he prepares to enter the White House for a second term.

China has been a recurring feature of Republican campaign rhetoric, leading a successful bid for re-election in the 2024 US presidential race.

As part of a pitch to American voters, Trump has promised to protect US manufacturing from Chinese competition.

“I charged China hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes and duties. They paid us,” Trump boasted at his last campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on November 4.

“And you know what? We will get along well with China. We will get along well. I want to get along with them. President Xi was great until COVID came. Then, I wasn’t that happy about him.”

During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump accused the Chinese leader of allowing the virus to spread by “allowing planes to leave China and infect the world”. He also repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus”.

Despite their bad history, Xi called to congratulate Trump on his second term the day after the election, on November 6.

Xi has led China’s government since 2013, and under his authority, the two-term limit for presidents was abolished.

Trump has expressed admiration for Xi’s authority over China’s government, which some critics have compared to a dictatorship.

“I got along very well with President Xi. He is a great guy. “He wrote me a nice note the other day when he heard what happened,” Trump said after the July assassination attempt. “It’s a good thing to get along, not a bad thing.”

Goodbye to Biden

Xi and Biden have their own sordid history, with events such as the 2023 downing of an alleged Chinese “spy” balloon fueling tensions.

China has maintained that the balloon was a civilian aircraft gathering weather data, and criticized the US decision to shoot it down after passing over sensitive US military sites.

Biden, who turns 82 on Wednesday, chatted with his Chinese counterpart during their last meeting with reporters.

“Can you put on your earplugs? We interpret together,” Xi asked Biden at their afternoon news conference.

Biden responded with a joke. “I learned to speak Chinese,” he said with a laugh.

The American president went on to admit that relations have not always been smooth between their two countries.

“We didn’t always agree, but our conversations were always honest and always open. We never played with each other. We were equal to each other. And I think that’s important,” Biden said, pointing across the table as he read from prepared remarks.

“These negotiations prevent miscalculation, and ensure that competition between our two countries will not be affected.”

He used his last meeting as president with Xi to push several US priorities. In a study released by the White House, Biden is reported to be pushing for greater legal cooperation to stop the flow of synthetic drugs to the US.

He and Xi also discussed emerging challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), including its use in nuclear weapons.

“The two leaders confirmed the need to maintain human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons,” the study explained.

“Both leaders reiterated the need to closely monitor the potential risks and develop AI technology in the military sector in a smart and reliable way.”

Biden also confirmed that America’s “one China policy” remains “unchanged”: The US recognizes the Beijing government as the sole government of China. It does not have formal diplomatic relations with the self-governing island of Taiwan, which China claims is its territory.

China has called recognizing Taiwan’s sovereignty a “red line” in its relations with the US.

While Biden has promised to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack, on Saturday, he issued a note of peace, calling for the continuation of the status quo.

“He reiterated that the United States opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo on both sides, that we expect cross-Strait tensions to be resolved through peaceful means, and that the world is interested in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” the White House said.

But, it added, Biden is also “calling for an end to denigrating the PRC [People’s Republic of China] military activity around Taiwan”.