In a pivotal meeting held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to stable relations with Washington, even as the White House prepares for a transition to President-elect Donald Trump.
Meeting with outgoing President Joe Biden on Saturday, Xi acknowledged the “ups and downs” in US-China relations during Biden’s tenure but highlighted progress on critical issues like trade tensions and Taiwan.
“China is ready to work with the new U.S. administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation, and manage differences,” Xi stated.
Biden echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to prevent strategic competition between the two superpowers from escalating into conflict. “Our two countries cannot let any of this competition veer into conflict. That is our responsibility, and over the last four years, I think we’ve proven it’s possible to have this relationship,” he said.
While both leaders struck a conciliatory tone, analysts warn of potential volatility as Trump prepares to re-enter office in January. Known for his hardline stance on China, Trump has already announced plans to impose 60% tariffs on all Chinese imports and has appointed vocal China hawks to key foreign policy and defense positions.
During his first term, Trump labeled China a “strategic competitor” and caused a significant rift by referring to COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus.” Relations between the two nations deteriorated further with trade wars and mutual recriminations over technological dominance.
Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific Program, said Beijing would be closely watching Trump’s next moves. “The Chinese are ready to negotiate and deal, and probably hope for early engagement with the Trump team to discuss potential transactions,” she explained. “However, they are ready to retaliate if Trump insists on imposing higher tariffs.”
Glaser added that China might be concerned about the lack of reliable back channels to influence Trump’s policy, increasing the unpredictability of bilateral relations.
During his presidency, Biden sought to “responsibly manage” the US-China rivalry, maintaining a balance between competition and cooperation. His administration made some strides in lowering tensions, including agreements on combating narcotics and climate change reached at a 2023 summit in San Francisco.
However, his tenure was not without challenges. Relations with Beijing soured over incidents like the “spy balloon” saga and U.S. support for Taiwan, including visits by senior officials that provoked military responses from China. Biden’s administration also continued some of Trump’s policies, such as tariffs on Chinese goods, and imposed new duties targeting China’s electric vehicles and solar panels.
Biden’s strengthened alliances in the Asia-Pacific region to counter China’s assertiveness, coupled with his declaration that the U.S. would defend Taiwan if invaded, further complicated the relationship.
Despite the challenges, Xi remains cautiously optimistic about the potential for cooperation with the Trump administration. Analysts suggest that Beijing may seek early engagement with the president-elect to stabilize ties, even as it prepares for the possibility of escalating tensions.
“China’s ultimate goal remains the same: stability and predictable relations with Washington,” said Glaser.
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