Biden And Xi Will Meet In Bali As Us China Relations Have Soured

But much has changed since those friendly, exploratory meetings, a time when Biden said the US did not fear but welcomed China’s rise. Then differences over human rights and trade could be more easily addressed behind broader consensus on issues such as the need to promote economic recovery from the 2008 financial crash and the fight against terrorism. During his ten years in power Xi Jinping has proven to be a more ruthless, authoritarian and nationalistic leader than expected, determined to restore his country as a world power and resist US efforts to contain and encircle China , maybe. eventually even overthrow its one-party system. Getty Images Copyright: Getty Images A trade meeting in California in 2012, when both Xi and Biden were both vice presidents of their respective countries. Xi became president of China in 2013 Image caption: A trade meeting in California in 2012, when both Xi and Biden were vice presidents of their respective countries. Xi became China’s president in 2013 As President Biden’s descriptions of Xi were much harsher: “He doesn’t have a democratic bone in his body.” So what hope, in this frozen superpower standoff, is there for any progress in this first face-to-face meeting of the Biden presidency? Biden seems to believe in straight talk — outlining clearly what the US’s red lines are above all on Taiwan, but also the Russian invasion of Ukraine, nuclear weapons and many other disputes — and using the remnants of their past. easier familiarity with rebuilding trust and with the belief that both sides need and want to avoid a dangerous escalation. He is a stronger figure now following the results of the US mid-term elections, although he will still be seen by the Chinese side as a leader with possibly only two years in office. He insisted that for all his willingness to listen, he would offer no concessions at this meeting. And Xi, having consolidated his power indefinitely after last month’s Communist Party Congress? His goals and willingness to overcome his mistrust of the US are much harder to guess.