Biden remains optimistic about meeting Xi amidst ongoing US-China tensions.

Despite recent tensions, US President Joe Biden plans to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this year. Their first meeting as presidents took place in November 2022 in Bali, where they aimed to manage the strained relations between the two largest economies. Biden expressed his anticipation of continuing their conversation this fall, possibly during a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in San Francisco in November, which China is also part of.

There’s potential for the two leaders to meet in New Delhi next month at a Group of 20 major economies summit. Biden’s confidence in this meeting stems from his past interactions with Xi when they were both vice presidents.

Despite these plans for dialogue, there have been several instances where Biden’s actions and statements have caused tension with China. Earlier this month, he referred to China as a “ticking time bomb” due to its economic issues. In June, Biden labelled Xi a “dictator,” a comment that China strongly criticised, especially following a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing, the highest-ranking US official to visit China in nearly five years.

Biden has also imposed restrictions on US investment in sensitive high-tech sectors in China and prohibited exports of advanced microchips. These moves have been met with China’s objections, as they view them as violations of free-trade principles, while the Biden administration asserts that these measures are to safeguard US security.

Additionally, China has criticised the three-way summit involving Biden, the South Korean leader, and the Japanese leader. This summit marked a significant step in reconciling the two US allies, South Korea and Japan, which have had prolonged disputes over historical wartime issues.

Despite these challenges, Biden’s willingness to engage with Xi Jinping demonstrates an ongoing effort to address the complexities and dynamics of the relationship between the United States and China.