Biden and Xi’s Surprise Stroll: No Joint Statement, Only Productive Talks!
Xi Jinping and Biden greeted each other with positive signals before and after the meeting
Chinese state media praised the meeting’s outcome
The NYT noted brief discussions on sensitive issues without a joint statement
North Korea was mentioned, but no agreement was reached
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After a roughly four-hour discussion, the two leaders strolled on the estate’s grounds. This unusual gesture from President Xi, who is often reserved, can be interpreted as expressing “anticipation” for the summit in the first instance and “satisfaction” with the results in the second.
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◇ Chinese State Media Positive About Summit Outcome
Chinese state-run media outlets have been continuously releasing positive evaluations.
Xinhua News Agency highlighted President Xi’s statement that “the earth can accommodate both China and the U.S., and each country’s success is an opportunity for the other.” Also, they stated that “the future of China-U.S. relations is bright.”
Global Times, known for its hardline stance, evaluated the U.S.’s choice of Filoli Estate, stating that “such a layout indicates that the China-U.S. summit is not just a bilateral event or sideline meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, but a separate, official, and very important summit.”
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◇ Biden and Xi’s “Laofengyou” Relationship and Military Dialogue Resumption
President Biden and President Xi also showcased their closeness by mentioning their first meeting 12 years ago when they were vice presidents. According to the New York Times (NYT), the two leaders had met eight times before their meeting in Bali, Indonesia. This makes it their 10th meeting, and it’s not an understatement to say that President Xi’s referring to President Biden as “lao peng you” (old friend) is more than just diplomatic rhetoric.
Their “lao peng you” relationship may have influenced the agreement to resume military-to-military dialogue. China had suspended that to protest Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022. This resumption was a top agenda item for President Biden, along with cooperation in solving the fentanyl problem, a significant issue in American society.
Of course, it is clear that the mutual interests of the two leaders, who are wary of former President Donald Trump winning next November’s U.S. election, played a more prominent role in these agreements.
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◇ Reiteration of Previous Positions on Taiwan and Lack of Agreement on North Korea and Iran Issues
The two leaders also tried to avoid conflict by reaffirming their existing positions on Taiwan, the biggest diplomatic issue between the U.S. and China. According to the New York Times (NYT), they did not discuss the issue of North Korea, which owns many more weapons than during the era of U.S.-China cooperation. President Biden’s efforts to persuade President Xi to weaken Iran’s influence did not immediately lead to an agreement.
The White House stated that President Biden “emphasized the U.S.’s consistent commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” Still, it is pointed out that this was not a level of discussion.
◇ Differing Perceptions on Competition: Biden Emphasizes Xi Prioritizes Cooperation
However, the two leaders revealed their differences in perception over the hegemonic competition in military and economic areas between the two countries. President Biden said that competition needs to be managed to prevent it from turning into conflict or collision. In contrast, President Xi said that competition between China and the U.S. cannot solve the problems of the two countries and the world and that the earth is big enough to accommodate both China and the U.S.
Biden emphasized ‘competition,’ and President Xi emphasized ‘cooperation.’ He is desperate for economic performance ahead of next year’s election. President Xi, who needs to solve the most severe financial problems since the reform and opening policy 1978, failed to reach any significant agreement.
◇ NYT: “No Joint Statement, Only Brief Discussion of Most Aggressive Actions”
The NYT’s evaluation reflects this: “It appears that the two leaders had only a brief discussion about the most aggressive actions that could trigger a disaster, without issuing a joint statement.”
The paper pointed out that while President Biden said in a press conference after the meeting that the meeting was his ‘most constructive and productive dialogue’ with President Xi since his inauguration, the agreements announced were modest. The most important promise was to continue the dialogue and answer the phone in a crisis.
By. Ha Man Joo
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