There is no breakthrough after the first virtual summit of Biden and Xi

President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have not reached a “breakthrough” on issues relating to both countries after the first virtual summit as state leaders on November 15.

Mr Biden said the United States will strive to “promote a free, open and fair international system” and express concern about the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights records and the abuse he knew in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong. .. ..

according to Biden of the White House used the talk as an opportunity to “speak frankly and frankly” to Xi about his administration’s intentions and priorities over a variety of issues.

“We didn’t expect this conference to be a kind of basic starting point for US-China relations. We didn’t expect a breakthrough and nothing,” he said.

The two leaders held an “expanded debate” on Taiwan, according to people familiar with the matter. It is a major US ally in the Indo-Pacific and the Chinese administration considers it part of a territory that needs to be forcibly integrated with the mainland as needed. ..

“In Taiwan, there was nothing new established in the form of guardrails or other understanding,” officials said.

“The idea of ​​installing a specific guardrail for Taiwan was not part of tonight’s conversation,” a source added.

“We are still committed to the” One China “policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Communiqués, and the Six Assurances,” Biden told Xi.

“The United States is strongly opposed to unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine the peace and stability of the entire Strait of Taiwan,” the White House said in a statement.

In October, Taiwan’s defense minister warned that the Chinese administration could begin a full-scale invasion of the island of self-governing liberal democracy by 2025.

Washington is required by a law known as the Taiwan Relations Act to supply the autonomous islands with military equipment for self-defense.

According to China’s state media, Xi warned Biden that if the so-called Taiwan independence forces “crossed the red line,” China “must take decisive steps.”

According to the White House, other topics discussed during the conference included climate crisis, global energy supply, North Korea, Afghanistan and Iran.

Officials did not comment when asked if the two leaders were talking about nuclear stability or if China was allegedly testing a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile in the summer.

When asked if the talks would ease tensions between the two countries, officials said the talks should be viewed from different angles.

“So I don’t think the goal was to relieve tensions in particular … We want to make sure that competition is managed responsibly and there is a way to do it.”

“A very different vision for the future”

Ian Easton, senior director of the Project 2049 Institute, said in an interview with Epoch Times sister media NTD on November 15 before the virtual conference that the virtual summit spreads tensions between communist China and the United States. He said he suspected it was possible.

Easton suspected that the two leaders were arguing because “they have very different visions of the future, especially Taiwan.”

“For President Biden, I think his main goal is deterrence and to communicate very clearly with Chair Xi. If China continues to act aggressively against Taiwan, it will eventually “It will become more and more clear about the United States’ more normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and its commitment to protect Taiwan if it becomes necessary,” Easton said.

In other words, Mr Easton said the conference was about “reestablishing, restoring and rebuilding the credibility of American deterrence.”

“Not so beneficial” dialogue for the United States

Professor Robert Satter of the Elliott Graduate School of International Affairs at George Washington University told NTD on November 15 that he may not keep his promise after Beijing agrees on something, intellectual property theft and trade. Pointed out the administration’s past records of the South China Sea. Sea.

“In the South China Sea, Xi Jinping is famous for saying he would not militarize the islands of the South China Sea. And Washington knows what he said, and of course, it never happened, it went in the opposite direction. So this is the record, “Satter explained.

He used China’s dialogue between senior leaders “to disguise what their policies are” and “they do it one thing and they do something completely different. I warned.

“Therefore, these types of dialogue are not always beneficial to the United States, as the institution sees,” he said.

Neither Biden nor Sea are expected to set back negotiations, Satter said. The two leaders are “strongly required to remain strong,” so “it is very difficult to understand how to solve a particular problem.” Sensitive to both. “

“Xi Jinping is showing a very strong show at the plenary session, and next year there will be a party convention. And he has come up with a series of policies that are very unpleasant for the United States. I don’t think he intends to withdraw from these policies. He wants to look strong, “Sutter said.

In October, Beijing issued a series of new draft rules requiring government approval before companies are allowed to transfer data abroad. This can affect foreign companies in both China and Hong Kong.

In June, Beijing passed a new law prohibiting businesses from complying with foreign regulations imposed on Chinese citizens and businesses.

Lee Chen-shu, a deputy researcher at the Taiwan National Policy Foundation, told the Epoch Times that Biden had no way to withdraw support for Taiwan after the summit.

If Biden did, Lee said it was equivalent to the United States waiving its commitment to the entire Indo-Pacific region.