Today, it was announced that President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will convene for their first direct meeting in a year, hosted in the San Francisco Bay area as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. A comprehensive agenda of global issues is set to be tabled, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, North Korea's ties with Russia, the situation with Taiwan, Indo-Pacific affairs, human rights, fentanyl, artificial intelligence, and "fair" trade and economic relations as referred from Reuters.
With China's emergence as a significant global player, maintaining open lines of communication, managing competition, averting conflicts, and fostering a cooperative spirit are no longer redundant. The NBC Bay Area cites White House sources suggesting that these talks aim at a consensus on pressing transnational issues requiring immediate global intervention.
The summit's agenda, besides grappling with many difficult topics, including US export controls on advanced technology and the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon, also raises the heat over Taiwan, as tensions have risen since the US visit of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen earlier this year.
Apart from this, to demonstrate its commitment to the Philippines, the US intends to discuss a recent incident involving a collision between Chinese ships and two Filipino vessels. With substantial influence over Iran, China can alter the status quo of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The objective of the talks is not to alter China's international role but to recognize its standing for the coming decades. Considering the extensive background of Biden and Xi relations, mutual suspicions and grievances prevail according to Reuters.
Beyond these discussions, the summit also encapsulates the contest between both nations for world military superiority, economic dominance, and alliances with other nations. Factors contributing to this rivalry include China's growing international standing, its strengthening economy, and its attempts to wield more influence in regions such as the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and East China Sea.
