In brief
President Biden's recent meeting with Xi Jinping is seen as pivotal in the new landscape of U.S.-China relations.
In a crucial meeting held in Lima, Peru, President Biden faced off with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as global ties shift with Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency. As the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum concluded, this encounter might have been Biden’s last chance to directly engage with Xi, especially with Trump promising a tougher stance on China. Xi addressed the changing dynamics, stating, “China’s goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relationship remains unchanged.” Biden’s term focused on carefully navigating these tricky waters, emphasizing diplomacy to prevent open conflict. However, the atmosphere has grown tense, with mounting concerns over China’s closeness to Russia and its increasing military assertiveness, particularly around Taiwan and in the South China Sea. With Biden’s vision in transition, observers worry whether Beijing will continue to seek cooperative engagement or further escalate tensions as Trump takes the reins again.
