A little peace - Biden and Xi talk to each other again
It could hardly be more idyllic. Meticulously trimmed box trees line the gravel path next to a pool, water splashes in a fountain, colorful lanterns dangle over rose bushes, a frog croaks next to a pond and deer hop across the meadow next door. Joe Biden has chosen a special place to receive Xi Jinping for talks.
The US President and the Chinese head of state retreat to a chic estate with lush gardens in the hills south of San Francisco to talk to each other in peace. They have not seen or spoken to each other for a year. No phone calls, no video calls, nothing. Now, a year and a day after their most recent meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali in November 2022, they are coming together on the sidelines of the Apec summit in California. But not in a conference room on the summit grounds, but 45 kilometers away from San Francisco, in an idyllic garden. Far away from the noise of the city, the hustle and bustle of the summit and the demonstrators.
A walk in the countryside
Biden and Xi sit together for several hours at the Filoli estate in Woodside, shielded from the outside world by a large contingent of police officers. They discuss with advisors in larger and smaller groups. They have ravioli, artichokes and chicken for lunch. After lunch, the two presidents stroll through the garden. These images of the two men at the head of the two largest military and economic powers are also intended to send a signal to the world: The US and China are not on the verge of starting the next major international conflict.
In the past few months of complete radio silence between the two powerful men, there have been concerns that relations between the two states could slide into a real conflict. The issue of Taiwan in particular offers potential for this. China sees the island republic as part of its territory. There are fears that China could use military force to annex Taiwan. Biden has promised Taipei military support in such a case. The horror scenario of a direct military confrontation between the USA and China is therefore looming. There are repeated demonstrations of military power in the area around Taiwan.
Signals of détente
In California, Biden and Xi are trying to allay fears of a confrontation - at least outwardly. After the meeting, the US President appeared before the press without his guest and spoke of a constructive meeting, of "important progress" and "positive steps". Yes, both countries are in competition, he says. It is the responsibility of both sides to manage relations in such a way that there is no conflict. It is about global stability.
Biden barely touched on Taiwan during his appearance. Instead, the Democrat reported that he and Xi had agreed that in future they would simply pick up the phone if they had concerns or needed to talk - and the other would answer. Direct communication between the armed forces of the two countries will also be resumed. In recent months, Beijing had repeatedly refused an exchange between the defense ministers and military officers of both countries - despite various military incidents that the Americans wanted to talk about.
Xi also struck a conciliatory tone in the Californian idyll. For two large countries like the USA and China, turning their backs on each other is not an option, he said at the start of the meeting. It was unrealistic for one side to turn the other around and a conflict or confrontation would have "unbearable consequences" for both sides. The USA and China are different on many levels, but "as long as they respect each other and coexist in peace", they could overcome their differences. The world is big enough for both countries to succeed.
Behind closed doors
But behind the scenes, things were not all harmonious. A senior US government official reports that Xi expressed ongoing concerns about Taiwan, noting that this was the biggest and potentially most dangerous area of conflict in relations with the US. Xi did say that he was not planning any military action and that China wanted "peaceful reunification". However, the Chinese president quickly moved on to going through the conditions under which force could be used.
The two presidents have little to show in terms of concrete results: An agreement to fight against the import of the drug fentanyl from China into the USA, which should help Biden in the election campaign, especially domestically. In addition, the revival of direct communication between the presidents and the armed forces of both countries, which should help to reduce tensions, but is a matter of course in other relationships. By their own admission, however, the Americans had not expected much more and had aggressively dampened expectations for the meeting in advance.
Competitors - not friends
Both sides make no secret of the fact that they are competitors - not friends. One moment at the end of Biden's press conference makes this particularly clear. When asked by a reporter whether he would continue to refer to Xi as a "dictator" after the meeting that day, Biden says: "Look, that's him." Biden then adds, awkwardly, that Xi is a dictator in the sense that he leads a communist country "based on a form of government that is completely different from ours". After this comment, Biden's phone is likely to ring soon.
In the context of international diplomacy, the meeting between Biden and Xi at the Apec summit in California was seen as a significant step towards preventing a potential conflict between the two largest military and economic powers. This highly anticipated meeting took place in a secluded estate with lush gardens, away from the noise of the city and the summit, signaling a desire for peaceful dialogue.
During their discussions, Biden and Xi agreed to resume direct communication between their countries' military leaders and also committed to addressing concerns directly through phone calls, a shift that could potentially help manage relations and prevent escalation. This new approach in international diplomacy between the US and China is a testament to the understanding that open lines of communication can contribute to global stability.
Source: www.dpa.com
