Hello everyone, welcome to “News Talk”. I am Fuyao. Today is November 18th, Monday.
Today’s focus: The final meeting between Biden and Xi, let’s take a close look! Party leader strongly demands, naming Taiwan President Lai Ching-te! Japan’s new Prime Minister takes a more cold approach to Xi! Following the meeting, more tensions arise in US-China relations.
Over the past weekend, President Biden attended the final APEC summit in his term and had the last “Biden-Xi meeting” with the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping.
Although the Biden administration is currently a transition government and the new Trump 2.0 administration is set to be launched next year, the world is still paying close attention to the delicate relationship between the US and China during this transition period.
Today, we have invited China affairs expert and host of “Horizontal River Review”, Mr. Horizontal River; Secretary-General of the Chinese-Asian Elite Exchange Association and Dr. Wang Zhisheng of the National Development Institute, University of Taiwan; current affairs commentator and senior political and economic analyst Mr. Qin Peng to discuss.
The “Biden-Xi meeting” took place in Lima, Peru on the 16th local time.
According to the meeting summary released by the White House, “President Biden emphasized that the United States is committed to upholding international law, freedom of navigation, overflight, and peace and stability in the South China Sea and East China Sea.” And “On the Taiwan issue, President Biden emphasized that the US’s One China policy remains unchanged, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three joint communique, and the six assurances.”
“President Biden reiterated that the US opposes any party unilaterally changing the status quo, and we hope that the Taiwan Strait issue can be resolved through peaceful means. The peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait are related to the interests of peace and stability in the world.” The meeting summary stated that President Biden also urged the Chinese Communist Party to “cease military activities that disrupt stability around Taiwan.”
Chinese state media reported that party leader Xi Jinping stated that China and the US are two major countries and it is inevitable to have some contradictions and differences. However, it should not harm each other’s core interests, nor should it lead to conflict and confrontation. The principle of “One China” and the China-US “Three Joint Communiques” are the political foundation of the bilateral relationship and must be adhered to.
Xi also mentioned that the Taiwan issue, democracy and human rights, system of governance, and development rights are the four red lines for China and cannot be challenged. These are the most important protective barriers and safety nets for China-US relations.
Overall, the two leaders had a clear and direct discussion on a series of bilateral, regional, and global issues.
1. Mr. Qin Peng, both sides have firm stances, with Biden reiterating the principles that the US and its allies have upheld for over three years. Xi Jinping, on the other hand, laid out four red lines clearly. Prior to this potentially last “Biden-Xi meeting,” it was expected that the atmosphere between the two leaders would be more accommodating. Based on the current reports, does the atmosphere seem more tense or harmonious?
Xi Jinping clearly told Biden that the Taiwan issue is a red line for China and cannot be challenged. He even stated that for the US to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, it is crucial to unequivocally oppose “Taiwan independence” and not challenge the red lines and bottom lines.
Biden, as before, urged Beijing to stop actions that disrupt stability around Taiwan.
Regarding the Taiwan Strait issue, the US continues to emphasize maintaining the status quo across the strait. President Biden also stated, “The US opposes any party unilaterally changing the status quo, and we hope to resolve the Taiwan Strait issue through peaceful means as the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait are related to the global interest of peace and stability.”
2. Mr. Horizontal River, why did China demand the US to clearly oppose “Taiwan independence” despite being aware of the US’s stance? Additionally, will Biden give Xi Jinping this face?
Xi Jinping emphasized that the “Taiwan independence” separatist acts are like a red line for the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. “If the US wants to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, it is crucial to understand the ‘Taiwan independence’ nature of Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party, approach the Taiwan issue with caution, clearly oppose ‘Taiwan independence,’ and support peaceful reunification by the Chinese Communist Party.”
3. Dr. Wang Zhisheng, both leaders touched on the Taiwan Strait issue significantly. When Xi specifically mentioned Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, what message is he trying to convey?
4. Mr. Horizontal River, by bringing up the Taiwan issue so prominently, does China inadvertently prompt the US to support Taiwan even more to deter China’s ambitions? Could China have misjudged the US’s stance on the Taiwan Strait issue?
Furthermore, the “Biden-Xi meeting” was arranged at the invitation of the APEC summit. In the APEC summit, new Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Japanese Prime Minister Abe, who served ten years ago, displayed differing attitudes towards the party leader.
This time, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Xi had a meeting lasting about 35 minutes. Before the conversation, Xi quoted Mencius: “When a man isn’t despised by himself, that is the time for his fortune.” This quote was often used by the late former Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei.
Veteran media figure Mr. Yabuta Akio believed that Xi Jinping came prepared to “guide” Mr. Ishiba.
5. Mr. Qin Peng, in just a span of ten years, what changes have led to such a significant shift in the Japanese Prime Minister’s attitude towards the party leader?
Moreover, another crucial focus during the APEC summit was on economic, trade, and technological issues.
Xi Jinping stated that every country has the need to safeguard national security and should not generalize the concept of national security or maliciously restrict and suppress other countries under this pretext. He mentioned that claims of cyber attacks by China lacked evidence and reason. China itself is a victim of international cyber attacks and consistently opposes and combats all forms of cyber attacks.
6. Dr. Wang Zhisheng, is Xi Jinping’s claim of China being a victim of cyber attacks conflicting with the widespread belief that China is a perpetrator of cyber attacks? It sounds like China feels unjustly treated and perceives itself as unfairly judged, is there truth in this claim?
Following the meeting, yesterday, the party leader Xinhua reported that Xi Jinping warned, if one side views the other as a rival or enemy, the relations between the two countries may “encounter setbacks or even regress.” Is this hinting at the new era of US-China relations under the leadership of the new US government?
7. Mr. Qin Peng, how do you think the Biden administration will handle China-related matters during the transition from the Trump administration? Why did the Chinese side need to add this statement after the meeting?
Additionally, was Xi Jinping seizing the Biden-Xi meeting as an opportunity to draw clear lines between China and the US? Will this objective be achieved?
8. Dr. Wang Zhisheng, do Xi Jinping’s statements in the “Biden-Xi meeting” have any relevance to the hawkish cabinet newly formed by Trump? Based on the diplomatic rhetoric from China this time, what kind of attitude will China display when facing an all-hawkish Trump cabinet?
9. Mr. Horizontal River, what stage of US-China relations do you think will happen after Trump takes office?
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