What Will Be Discussed Between Xi Jinping and Biden in South America? Experts Provide Key Insights

Two leaders from different systems, even if walking side by side in Filoli Estate, their hearts remain worlds apart, unable to spark any connection. (Video screenshot)

[People News] Yesterday (14th), the CCP leader, on his way to Peru to attend the APEC summit, arrived at Chancay Port, approximately 60 kilometers north of Lima, to host the opening ceremony for a key Belt and Road project in South America.

Meanwhile, a statement from the White House noted that President Joe Biden would travel to Lima, Peru, from November 14 to 16. The White House also confirmed that Biden would hold a one-on-one meeting with Xi Jinping this Saturday.

Against the backdrop of heightened tensions, as the newly elected U.S. President Trump (Donald Trump, hereinafter the same) prepares to install a hawkish team and is expected to initiate a new trade war with China, what will the "Biden-Xi meeting" discuss? What outcomes might emerge? Will it impact the future of U.S.-China relations?

Some analysts believe that the final "Biden-Xi meeting" before Biden leaves office will not achieve any constructive results. Others think Xi Jinping will seize this opportunity to show that the original relationship between China and the U.S. still has warmth, placing all future negative outcomes on Trump’s shoulders. Still, others think this meeting could hold significant implications for the future of U.S.-China relations.

"A Crucial Meeting"

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized that the Biden-Xi meeting would be a "crucial dialogue," not just a farewell conversation. He noted, "This is a pivotal moment for U.S.-China relations. Both sides need to ensure that no issues arise during the next two months of the U.S. government transition. Much work remains to be done in this regard."

Senior U.S. officials noted in a background briefing that the meeting would provide an opportunity to directly challenge Xi Jinping on issues such as cyberattacks, threats to Taiwan, human rights concerns, and China's support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

As Biden prepares to leave office, tensions between the U.S. and China remain high, with unresolved key issues likely to carry over into the next administration. Biden reportedly plans to discuss areas of U.S.-China cooperation, such as reducing the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., addressing challenges posed by AI development, and collaborating on climate change. Additionally, the U.S. will focus on China's support for Russia’s defense industry and reinforce existing sanctions aimed at curbing this support. Biden may also reaffirm the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and express concerns about China’s actions in the South China Sea. Human rights issues and China’s trade and economic policies will also be on the agenda.

Diverging Views

However, Mark Kennedy, director of the Wilson Center’s Strategic Competition Institute, pointed out that the likelihood of achieving significant agreements on fentanyl control is low, especially with the U.S. nearing a government transition.

It remains unclear how deeply Biden and Xi Jinping will discuss the incoming Trump administration. U.S. officials stated that Trump and his team would soon inherit a series of complex issues related to China, handling the "difficult, complicated, but profoundly impactful relationship" between the U.S. and China.

Michael Cunningham, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center, noted that since Xi Jinping knows Biden’s term will end in a few months, he is unlikely to take Biden or this meeting seriously. "China (the CCP) has already focused nearly all its efforts on preparing for Trump’s return to the White House and has no motivation to make any concessions to Biden. This 'Biden-Xi meeting' will not produce any constructive outcomes," Cunningham said.

Analysts believe that from Xi Jinping’s perspective, the value of this "Biden-Xi meeting" might lie in the photo opportunities and the positive media coverage it generates. Cunningham suggested that U.S.-China relations could become even more tense in the future and that Xi may seek to create a favorable impression of Biden now as future evidence of goodwill. He stated, "Good photo opportunities and positive media coverage will help Xi Jinping and his propaganda apparatus deflect blame for past tensions in U.S.-China relations onto Trump, demonstrating to domestic and international audiences that any future turbulence in bilateral ties is Trump’s responsibility."

Kennedy commented that every interaction between leaders on the international stage provides new insights into Xi Jinping’s perspective. "For me, this meeting is symbolic rather than substantive," he remarked.

John Moolenaar, Chair of the U.S. House Select Committee on the CCP, stated in a statement yesterday that the Biden-Xi meeting is an opportunity to "reaffirm America’s resolve on the global stage." "(Biden) must resist Beijing’s military aggression in the Indo-Pacific, call for an end to its funding of fentanyl trafficking, make it clear that attacks on critical U.S. infrastructure will not be tolerated, and reiterate that U.S. funds will no longer support the CCP’s military buildup, technological ambitions, or ongoing genocide," Moolenaar said in the statement. "I sincerely hope President Biden seizes this critical opportunity on Saturday to deliver a strong message from the United States and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to allies and partners, particularly Taiwan."

After this face-to-face meeting, Biden and Xi will travel to Brazil to attend the G20 summit next week, where they are expected to meet again during the summit.

Focus on the G20

Following their face-to-face meeting, Biden and Xi will attend the G20 summit in Brazil next week, where they are expected to meet again. A senior U.S. official noted that Biden intends to use the opportunity to ensure U.S.-China relations remain stable during the transition period and responsibly manage competition. The meeting aims to consolidate "results from managing U.S.-China competition," according to remarks cited by AFP.

Observers noted that under the backdrop of ongoing trade tensions and strained relations, all U.S.-China bilateral talks have occurred through the APEC and G20 summits, without any formal state visits. Meanwhile, China’s domestic economic situation has become increasingly dire, and Trump’s return to the White House could further exacerbate these problems.

Victor Cha, Chair of Geopolitics and Foreign Policy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), commented, "The only thing leaders at APEC and the G20 will focus on is Trump, who wasn’t there. Everyone will be speculating about the direction of his government’s policies on trade, alliances, and other issues."