Meet Virtually: President Biden Invites To Avoid Conflict, President Xi Jinping Ready To Cooperate
JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden opened his virtual meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping of China on Monday, saying their goal was to ensure competition "does not lead to conflict."
The two leaders met via video amid rising tensions in US-China relations. President Biden has criticized Beijing for human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in northwest China, quelling democratic protests in Hong Kong, military aggression against the self-governing island of Taiwan, and more.
Meanwhile, the Deputy President has previously criticized the Biden White House for meddling in what he sees as China's internal affairs.
"It seems our responsibility as leaders of China and the United States to ensure that competition between our countries does not lead to conflict, whether intentional or not, rather than simple and direct competition," President Biden said at the start of the conference, citing the Associated Press (AP) November 16.
President Biden prefers to meet President Xi in person, but the Chinese leader has not left his country since before the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The White House floated the idea of a virtual meeting as the next best thing, allowing the two leaders to have an honest conversation about the various tensions in the relationship.
President Xi told President Biden that both sides needed to improve communication. The two leaders traveled together when both were vice presidents and knew each other well.
"I am ready to work with you, Mr. President, to build consensus, take active steps, move China-USA towards positive relations," said President Xi Jinping, who called President Biden an "old friend".
Chinese officials say Taiwan will be their main issue for the talks. Tensions have risen as China's military has sent a growing number of fighter jets near the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.
"The Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as China's core interests," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Monday. "This is the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations."
The White House said President Biden would adhere to the long-standing US 'One China' policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows informal ties and defense ties with Taipei.
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Meanwhile, Chinese military forces held exercises last week near Taiwan in response to a visit by a United States Congressional delegation to the island.
With Beijing set to host the Winter Olympics in February and President Xi expected to be approved by Communist Party leaders to serve a third five-year term as president next year, unprecedented in China's recent history, the Chinese leader may want to stabilize the relationship in the short term.
Separately, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said China's 'condensation of power' makes conversations between leaders important.