Biden Forms Anti-China Coalition, Finally Moves to Meet Xi Jinping

Expected Talks on the Occasion of the October G20 Summit

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Joe Biden is pushing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor, said during a phone briefing with reporters on the 17th (local time), "We are considering the possibility of a meeting or phone call between President Biden and President Xi."

Sullivan explained that various forms of meetings are being considered, including multilateral meetings, bilateral meetings, and phone calls, but an in-person meeting is the most likely scenario.

A major foreign media outlet also reported that the G20 summit scheduled to be held in Rome, Italy, this October is the most likely venue.

Since taking office, President Biden has formed an anti-China alliance among allies through meetings with South Korea, Japan, the G7, and European leaders, while also checking Russia’s moves. Now, it is time for him to meet directly with President Xi to negotiate.

President Biden had a phone call with President Xi for the first time since his inauguration in February. The two leaders met virtually at the climate summit held in April but did not engage in conversation.

Since taking office, President Biden has defined China as the greatest threat and competitor, continuously taking a tough stance on human rights, trade, democracy, military issues, and COVID-19 response.

When asked by a reporter a day earlier whether he would call his longtime friend President Xi to urge a COVID-19 investigation, President Biden replied, "We know each other well, but we are not longtime friends; it is just a work-related relationship."

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