Biden Speaks With Xi Amid Low Point in U.S.-China Relations
Amidst intensifying tensions between the U.S. and China in recent months, President Biden met with President Xi Jinping of China to discuss how to resolve their differences and work together to fight issues such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic recovery. They met for the first time in seven months, demonstrating the disconnect between the U.S. and China. Not only do the two nations compete for superiority economically and militarily, but the U.S. has also issued various sanctions, policies, and statements that have hurt the relationship between the two. This has included the U.S. citing the Uyghur abuse in Xinjiang as a genocide, accusing China of hacking Microsoft email systems and causing cyberattacks, and more.
Recent meetings between the two countries have not gone successfully either. In March, China's top diplomats and Biden administration officials met, but the meeting ended with both sides refusing to collaborate with one another. In July, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman travelled to China, but unresolvable arguments occurred there as well.
Because of these difficulties, the meeting this week between President Biden and President Xi Jinping held special importance. They emphasized the need to work together on various issues, though the next steps will likely include "more concrete steps toward engagement in areas where the two sides also have differences and challenges."