High Country Times

During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in San Francisco, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a four-hour meeting. The meeting took place with the goal of setting boundaries for U.S.-China competition and addressing global issues such as climate change.

The outcomes of this high-level interaction reveal significant steps towards mutual cooperation. Biden and Xi convened with the aim of establishing parameters for U.S.-China competition, seeking to prevent a further deterioration in relations that could heighten the likelihood of a crisis or conflicts, according to an article by Council on Foreign Relations. The meeting yielded tangible outcomes, including the resumption of military-to-military talks, the formation of a working group on artificial intelligence, collaboration on combating fentanyl, and fresh commitments to address climate change. While these achievements align with their objectives, it is essential to acknowledge that Washington and Beijing remain entangled in a prolonged strategic competition driven by structural factors, displaying no indications of diminishing. Against the backdrop of upcoming elections in Taiwan, escalating Chinese pressure on the Philippines in the South China Sea, and ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, any alleviation of tensions is anticipated to be short-lived.

Meanwhile, President Xi sought specific benefits for China amidst economic challenges. Xi accomplished his own objectives by securing U.S. policy concessions in exchange for promises of cooperation. This has led to a reduction in bilateral tensions, enabling a heightened focus on economic growth and providing an opportunity to attract foreign investors who have been increasingly hesitant about investing in China, according to an article by Reuters. Speaking at an APEC CEO summit, Xi urged global business communities to invest in China, promising action on issues that concern foreign investors including intellectual property theft and data security. China's economy is experiencing a slowdown, reporting its first quarterly deficit in foreign direct investment earlier this month. Additionally, the ruling Communist Party has grappled with political intrigues, raising questions about Xi's decision-making, particularly in the abrupt and unexplained removals of his foreign minister and defense minister. "If the U.S. and China can manage their differences...it will mean that Xi Jinping doesn't have to divert all of his attention to that (bilateral relations)," noted Alexander Neill, an adjunct fellow at Hawaii's Pacific Forum think-tank.

The meeting marked a notable development in U.S.-China relations one year after their previous encounter. Biden and Xi convened one year and one day following their last encounter, which took place on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali. In the interim, significant developments unfolded in U.S.-China relations. In February, the United States downed a Chinese spy balloon flying over the country, leading Secretary of State Antony Blinken to defer his planned trip to Beijing and temporarily suspending high-level engagements, according to an article by Council on Foreign Relations. However, from the summer onward, senior officials from the Biden administration including Secretary Blinken, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen commenced visits to Beijing. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan engaged in extensive discussions with China's top diplomat Wang Yi who also recently journeyed to Washington to lay groundwork for Xi's visit to San Francisco.