After a long period of radio silence, the US and China want to resume communication between the armed forces of both countries. US President Joe Biden announced this on Wednesday (local time) after a meeting with Chinese head of state Xi Jingping in Woodside, south of San Francisco. The move was “critically important,” Biden said.
Without communication, accidents and misunderstandings can occur. According to the US, Xi openly discussed the use of force when it came to Taiwan.
Biden also reported that he wanted to maintain telephone contact with Xi. Biden said he had agreed to make it easier to reach him by phone with the Chinese president. It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two since the G-20 summit in Bali in November 2022.
Conversation lasted for hours
Biden and Xi have not spoken on the phone since. According to US information, the two presidents spoke for about four hours on Wednesday.
It was reported from US circles that the military communications agreements included a meeting between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart. There should also be operational discussions between senior military leaders from both countries. The U.S. commander of the Pacific Air Forces will also participate, the report said. Skippers must also exchange ideas with each other.
The US government has complained several times in recent months that the usual direct military communications with China are not working and that this could lead to dangerous misunderstandings and miscalculations. Beijing, for example, had rejected requests for talks at defense minister level. However, in preparation for the presidential meeting, there were signs of rapprochement, including through several meetings between senior members of the governments of both countries.
Convergence of the superpowers
After the meeting, Biden spoke on the online platform X (formerly Twitter) about “important progress” in the relationship between the two superpowers. Wednesday’s talks were among the most constructive and productive he has had with the Chinese leader to date.
Biden and Xi also agreed to establish a task force to combat drug-related crime. A representative of the US government spoke of an agreement on the fentanyl issue. Accordingly, China wants to take direct action against manufacturers of the synthetic opioid, which is many times more potent than heroin and has led to a massive drug problem in the US.
Taiwanese taboo theme
Of course, the biggest differences between Washington and Beijing lie in the area of international politics, especially the war in Ukraine, North Korea and the Taiwan crisis. In this respect, both sides had tempered expectations of rapprochement in advance.
The Taiwan issue is particularly sensitive. Like the vast majority of states, the US recognizes that the island belongs to China, but at the same time is willing to provide military assistance to Taiwan. Biden had publicly repeated this several times, much to China’s dismay. On the other hand, Xi has made no secret of his intention to reintegrate the breakaway province into the Chinese state.
Biden urged Xi to maintain “peace and stability” on the island, according to a US government official. Taiwan’s electoral processes must also be respected, he said, ahead of January’s presidential election, in which the pro-independence camp is expected to win. This could lead to an escalation of the conflict with Beijing.
According to the information, Xi noted to Biden that the Taiwan issue is the largest and potentially most dangerous conflict in US-China relations. The US government representative quoted the Chinese president as saying that he continues to hear reports from the US that China is planning military action in Taiwan. But this is not the case.
China is flexing its muscles
Xi made it clear that he was in favor of “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, but then immediately moved to the conditions under which force could be used. Biden assured that the US is committed to maintaining peace in the region. “President Xi responded: Look, peace is all well and good, but at some point we have to move to a more comprehensive solution,” the official said.
At the start of the meeting, Biden and Xi emphasized the great importance of US-China relations. Xi spoke of the “world’s most important bilateral relationship.” He and Biden have a great responsibility for the two peoples, the world and history. “For two major countries like China and the United States, turning away from each other is not an option,” Xi said.
After their talks, Biden and Xi plan to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. The 21-nation group’s heads of state and government and hundreds of influential business bosses are also meeting against the backdrop of China’s economic weakness.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
