Biden to discuss Israel-Palestine and Ukraine wars with Xi

On Tuesday, John Kirby, U.S. National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications, addressed questions regarding the meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Emphasizing that there is no change in the One China policy, Kirby reiterated the U.S.’s commitment to not supporting Taiwanese independence while expressing a desire for Taiwan’s democracy to flourish and advocating for the resolution of cross-strait tensions through peaceful means, avoiding unilateral actions.

Kirby added that Biden is expected to engage in talks about China’s interests in the ongoing situation in the Middle East. He highlighted the importance of President Xi’s perspectives and expressed a willingness to welcome China’s assistance in ensuring Israel’s defense capabilities and facilitating humanitarian aid to those in need.

According to Kirby, in addressing the upcoming bilateral discussions with China, Biden aims to navigate the relationship responsibly. He emphasized a competitive approach and highlighted the United States’ economic strength. The administration is poised to engage in diplomatic efforts, confronting differences when necessary and seeking cooperation, particularly on issues like climate change and clean energy technology, as outlined in the mutually agreed-upon agenda between the two.

During a press briefing, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller outlined the Biden administration’s approach to U.S.-China relations, emphasizing the short-term goal of reopening communication channels to manage geostrategic issues and avoid miscalculations.

Miller highlighted the administration’s focus on making tangible progress on bilateral concerns, such as addressing the export of precursor chemicals for fentanyl from China and re-establishing military-to-military ties, as part of a broader effort to reduce tensions on global strategic issues.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning addressed the upcoming China-U.S. summit meeting between Xi and Biden in San Francisco. Mao highlighted the significance of the meeting, emphasizing that the leaders will engage in in-depth communication on strategic, overarching, and fundamental issues shaping China-US relations, as well as major global matters related to peace and development.