Chinese President Xi Jinping has landed in the US for his first visit in six years, setting the stage for a crucial meeting with President Joe Biden in an undisclosed location in the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday morning. Following the Biden summit, Xi will participate in the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
The face-to-face meeting between the leaders, the first in a year, is viewed as an opportunity by US officials to ease tensions in what is perceived as a high-stakes global rivalry. Xi greeted officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, upon his arrival, and then proceeded into San Francisco amidst expectations of both supportive and opposing demonstrations.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, addressing APEC ministers earlier, emphasized the importance of a region where economies have the freedom to choose their path, without explicitly naming China. Blinken’s words echoed recent US rhetoric, accusing China of bullying smaller Indo-Pacific nations and challenging the “rules-based” order.
Trade Representative Katherine Tai, in conjunction with Blinken, highlighted the San Francisco meeting’s significance amid regional uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, fragile supply chains, and a worsening climate crisis.
President Biden aims to improve US-China relations, emphasizing the desire to enhance communication and normalize ties. While economic issues are a key focus, Biden clarified the US’s intention not to fully decouple from China but to reshape the economic relationship positively. The administration’s efforts to “de-risk” critical supply chains from China are part of this approach, reflecting growing economic and military competition between the two nations.
During the APEC summit, Xi seeks foreign investment to counter China’s economic challenges. He is expected to dine with top US business executives, providing American businesses an opportunity to address concerns related to China’s economic slowdown and uncertainties stemming from expanding Chinese security regulations.
Biden and Xi’s discussions will also touch on global issues, including the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and US support for Ukraine against the Russian military. Economic issues remain a central theme, with the US looking for ways to navigate competition while avoiding complete economic separation.
The backdrop includes concerns about a potential showdown, but Biden reassures regional countries that the US does not seek complete economic separation, aiming to prevent a superpower confrontation disrupting the global economy. Restoring military-to-military contacts severed by China in 2022 is a priority for the US, along with seeking Chinese cooperation in combatting the production of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, a pressing issue particularly in San Francisco.
Sino-US relations strained further after the US ordered the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon in February. Efforts to rebuild communication and trust have ensued through high-level visits between officials. Demonstrations, both pro-China and critical of Xi’s policies, are anticipated during the visit, reflecting the complexity of US-China relations.
