[Correspondent Diary] The Politics of 'Tonghwa'... Sovereignty vs Hegemony

Xi Jinping: Sino-US Conflict Is a Disaster vs Biden Prioritizes Indo-Pacific
China Imports 5.86 Million Tons of Corn vs US TikTok Sale Administrative Order Indefinitely Suspended

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed their differences through a phone call. However, they indicated that there is room for cooperation in areas such as COVID-19, climate change, nuclear non-proliferation, and trade.

President Xi and President Biden spoke on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday on the 11th. This was the first call between the two 'G2' leaders three weeks after Biden's official inauguration on the 20th of last month. The call lasted two hours. Considering interpretation time, the actual conversation lasted over an hour.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Xi Emphasizes Sovereignty, "China-U.S. Confrontation is a Disaster"

According to state media such as the People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, and Global Times, President Xi's remarks were very firm and resolute.

President Xi said, "China-U.S. relations are at a critical juncture," adding, "Conflicts between the two countries harm everyone, and cooperation benefits both sides." He further warned, "Confrontation between the two countries would undoubtedly be a disaster not only for China and the U.S. but for the entire world."

In particular, President Xi addressed the Hong Kong and Xinjiang issues, stating, "Matters related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang are China's internal affairs and concern China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," and pointed out, "The United States must respect China's core interests and act cautiously."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Biden Emphasizes Alliances, Consistently Pressures China

The White House, in a press release immediately after the call, mentioned that President Biden stated he would engage in practical and results-oriented actions if they benefit Americans and allied nations worldwide. This is interpreted as a commitment to actively pressure China in alliance with partners but also to cooperate if China makes concessions.

The White House clarified that President Biden prioritizes preserving the Indo-Pacific region. This signifies an intention to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and continue to check China.

He also directly raised issues concerning Hong Kong, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Taiwan with President Xi, addressing sensitive topics without euphemism. President Biden further criticized China's coercive and unfair economic practices.

U.S. Imports 5.86 Million Tons of Corn vs. Suspension of TikTok Sale Executive Order

President Xi emphasized during the call that China will never compromise on sovereignty issues. However, he showed willingness to cooperate with the U.S. on economic matters, infectious disease response, and environmental issues such as climate change.

President Xi said, "China can engage in in-depth communication with the U.S. in various fields including the economy," adding, "If we understand our differences, a path to cooperation will open."

President Biden was very firm regarding China's democracy, human rights, and alliance interests but expressed a positive stance on the necessity of U.S.-China cooperation. The White House reported that President Biden and President Xi exchanged views on COVID-19 response, climate change, and nuclear non-proliferation.

In fact, China imported 5.86 million tons of U.S. corn shortly after President Biden's inauguration, the largest volume since statistics began in 1999. President Biden indefinitely suspended the enforcement of the executive order mandating the sale of the Chinese video-sharing app TikTok.

A source in Beijing's diplomatic circles said, "President Biden will not deal with China in the same way as former President Trump," adding, "Above all, attention should be paid not to the words exchanged but to the actions taken by both sides."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.