The White House has expressed its willingness to resume military-to-military communications with China, as part of its efforts to ease the rising tensions between the two superpowers.
In a statement issued after President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco on Wednesday, the White House said that both leaders agreed to establish a direct line of communication with each other.
“This is a significant step forward in our bilateral relationship, which we hope will help create more stability and reduce the risk of misunderstanding,” the statement said.
The statement also said that Biden and Xi discussed various issues of mutual interest, such as climate change, trade, and regional security. They also agreed to cooperate on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting global health.
Biden and Xi are expected to hold another meeting later this year, possibly in Washington or Beijing.
The resumption of military-to-military talks comes after months of strained relations between the US and China over a range of issues, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, human rights, cybersecurity, and trade.
The US severed military-to-military contacts with China in August 2022, after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force if necessary to prevent its independence.
The US also imposed sanctions on several Chinese officials and entities for their alleged involvement in human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. China has denied these allegations and accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs.
The US has also accused China of conducting cyberattacks against its government agencies and private companies. China has denied these accusations and blamed the US for escalating tensions through its military activities near China’s borders.
The two countries have also clashed over their trade practices and policies. The US has imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods, citing unfair competition and intellectual property theft. China has retaliated with its own tariffs on US products, affecting both consumers and businesses.
Keep Reading
The White House said that it wants to change the economic relationship between the two countries for the better, without compromising national security or interests. It said that it supports fair competition and market access for all countries, but also expects reciprocity from China.
“We are not going to continue to sustain support for a position where in order to invest in China, we have to turn over all our trade secrets,” Biden said during his meeting with Xi.
He added that he is not going to be afraid to confront where confrontation is needed on certain issues where they do not see eye-to-eye.
However, he also acknowledged that there are areas where they can cooperate on common challenges, such as climate change. He said that he looks forward to working with Xi on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting clean energy transition.
He also expressed his hope that both countries can work together on preventing nuclear proliferation and ensuring global peace and security.
