Xi Jinping and Joe Biden Agree to Manage US-China Relations Ahead of Trump Era
Meeting at APEC Summit: Ensuring Stability in Bilateral Ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden met on Saturday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Lima, Peru. This meeting is expected to be their final interaction as leaders before Biden’s term ends in January.
Xi emphasized that while US-China relations had faced “ups and downs” over the past four years, they remained largely stable. “China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation, and manage differences for the benefit of both nations,” Xi said.
Biden described the relationship as “the most important” in the world, correcting himself after initially calling it an “alliance.” He reiterated, “Our two countries cannot let this competition spiral into conflict. Over the past four years, I think we’ve proven it’s possible to maintain this relationship.”
Navigating a Period of Strained Relations
US-China relations hit their lowest point in decades over the past few years. Major tensions arose from events such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to Taiwan in 2022 and the incursion of a Chinese spy balloon over the US in 2023.
Although relations have somewhat stabilized since then, significant disagreements remain, particularly regarding China’s support for Russia and US export controls on advanced semiconductor technologies.
Key Agreement on Nuclear Weapon Control
A notable achievement of the Biden-Xi meeting was an agreement to maintain human control over decisions involving the use of nuclear weapons. According to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, this marked the first time China made such a commitment.
“We’ve generated something meaningful today,” Sullivan stated. “This isn’t the end of the line, but it’s the start of a new path forward.”
Experts, including Bonnie Glaser from the German Marshall Fund, highlighted the significance of this agreement. “This is the first bilateral agreement between the US and China involving nuclear weapons, signaling efforts to mitigate dangerous security risks,” Glaser noted.
Preparing for Trump’s Return to the White House
The meeting also comes as the US transitions to a new administration under President-elect Donald Trump. Trump, who will assume office in two months, has named officials with hardline stances on China, including Florida Congressman Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor and Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.
Trump has also threatened to impose over 60% tariffs on Chinese exports and continues to criticize China’s access to advanced US technologies.
Meanwhile, speculation is growing over whether Elon Musk, a prominent Trump ally with business interests in China, will influence the incoming administration to adopt a softer approach toward Beijing.
Xi’s Message: Cooperation Over Competition
During the meeting, Xi reiterated China’s opposition to “decoupling” from the US and criticized Washington’s “small yard, high fence” policy that restricts China’s access to advanced semiconductor technologies.
“Major powers should not pursue policies like ‘small yard, high fences,’” Xi said, underscoring the need for cooperation over competition.
In response, Sullivan defended US export controls as narrowly focused on national security concerns, emphasizing their relevance to advanced technologies.
