Biden Holds “Frank and Direct” Talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping

Hongkong — President Joe Biden was originally scheduled to Face-to-face summit with Chinese leaders On Monday, Xi Jinping. The conference via video conference will be the most important conference in the United States——China Talks since Mr. Biden took office. According to a senior official in the Biden administration, the discussion will begin at 7:45 pm Eastern time and is expected to last “a few hours.” Lead to conflict”.

Mr. Biden will “right Areas of concern,” the U.S. official said. These areas may include China’s record-breaking Invaded Taiwan’s air defense zone Recent months; human Rights Protection Issues in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hongkong, And Beijing’s use of economic coercion and Internet technology.In progress Supply chain issues It is expected that trade tariffs will not be a priority in the dialogue.

White House officials downplayed the possibility of any major policy changes or diplomatic breakthroughs. Bilateral tensions have risen to near the worst level Since the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and China in 1979.

Over the weekend, as a prelude to the presidential talks, senior diplomats from the two countries spoke on the phone. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the importance of “walking towards each other” to ensure the smooth progress of the summit. Global TimesHe also warned his colleague, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Brinken, that Washington should not support Taiwan independence.

“The Secretary of State emphasized that the United States has long been concerned about peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and that [China’s] Continue to exert military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan. The people of Taiwan. ”

Mr. Biden should start a discussion with Xi Jinping in a few hours Sign his $1.2 billion bipartisan infrastructure bill​​ Become law-this is a victory for him and his government. White House officials believe that this timing means that Mr. Biden will enter the summit with a “tough hand” and is “ready to engage with President Xi.”

However, according to reports, President Biden’s domestic approval rate has dropped to a new low of 41%. Polls Released on Sunday. With the looming mid-term elections in the United States next year, he may postpone any move that might cause him or his fellow Democrats to be criticized for being weak against China.

The summit “will mark a turning point in Sino-US relations, showing that despite the differences and difficulties in the bilateral relationship, the leaders of the two countries believe that the two countries can talk and contact each other instead of letting the relationship between the two countries become deadlocked. Out of control,” Victor Gao, a Chinese diplomatic analyst and chair professor at Soochow University, told CBS News.

Gao said that he hopes that direct talks between leaders will help “reduce and minimize strategic mistrust, prevent strategic misjudgments, and enhance mutual understanding of each other’s key strategic positions.”

Gao said: “China and the United States need to live in harmony-for their own interests, but also for world peace and stability.” “I believe the virtual summit will bring a collective sigh of relief to mankind.”

Xi Jinping will participate in the discussion in one of his most powerful domestic positions in history.

The Chinese Communist Party promoted the 68-year-old president to the same position as the founder of modern China, Mao Zedong in the 1940s, and its top leader Deng Xiaoping at a meeting of 370 top national leaders on Friday. Served as president in the 1980s. They are the two most powerful leaders in China in the past 100 years. Xi Jinping officially promoted his status through a so-called “historical resolution”-this is the third resolution drafted since the founding of the Communist Party of China in 1921.

The resolution praised Xi Jinping’s leadership since he took office in 2012, saying that China “has made historic achievements and experienced historic changes” during his presidency.

Ultimately, as Xi Jinping enters a year in which many people expect to see him compete for an unprecedented third presidency, the declaration puts Xi Jinping in the most advantageous position.

Under Deng Xiaoping’s leadership, China imposed a two-term term limit on the president because he worked to eliminate the cult of personality built around Mao.

But Xi Jinping seems to be reawakening some cult fanaticism surrounding the country’s top leader.At this time next year, if Xi Jinping did this, it would be even more surprising to Chinese citizens and China observers around the world. no By continuing to lead the country, continue to build his legacy.

Supporters and critics may even agree that if this happens, it may mark the return of the Chinese emperor—lifetime and the 21st century.