Roving Periscope: Biden calls Xi a “dictator” again, as China reiterates Taiwan

Virendra Pandit 

New Delhi: The world’s two largest economies, at loggerheads for years both for geopolitical and economic reasons, have stuck to their known positions, with little possibility of any breakthrough in their bilateral relations that impacts the entire planet.

So, their much-anticipated Summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in San Francisco appeared more of an ice-breaker than a tie-breaker.

Hours after sharing a handshake and plastic smile for four hours with his Chinese counterpart after a year, US President Joe Biden again called Xi Jinping a “dictator,” underlining the deep suspicion the two countries’ leaders harbor against one another, the media reported on Thursday.

But earlier, Biden said talks with Xi had yielded progress in repairing strained ties in the bilateral relationship, hailing agreements to restore high-level military communications, combat fentanyl, and open a dialogue over artificial intelligence (AI).

“I believe they were some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had,” Biden said at a press conference Wednesday, following a choreographed Summit with the Chinese leader aimed at steadying a bilateral relationship under intense strains. “We’ve made some important progress, I believe.”

China described the talks as a “candid and in-depth exchange of views” and said “one country’s success is an opportunity for the other,” according to a statement released by the nation’s Foreign Ministry. The Chinese added it was “unrealistic for one side to remodel the other,” and warned the Taiwan question was among the most “sensitive issues in the relationship.”

“China will realize reunification, and this is unstoppable,” the ministry added.

Biden highlighted the restoration of direct military-to-military contacts, saying they would prevent miscalculations between the two countries, and also indicated he could speak to Xi directly.

“That’s how accidents happen, misunderstandings, so we’re back to direct, open, clear, direct communications,” Biden said.

“We’re going to continue to preserve and pursue high-level diplomacy,” he added.

“To keep the lines of communication open, including between President Xi and me. He and I agreed that each one has to pick up the phone call directly and be heard immediately.”

Chinese shares trading in Hong Kong lost as much as 2 percent in Thursday morning trading Beijing time. The onshore yuan weakened 0.17 percent at 7.2592 per dollar.

The leaders of the world’s two largest economies had not spoken for a year. Both sides celebrated the meeting, which lasted over four hours, as productive, and a step toward normalizing a relationship battered by a series of diplomatic and economic clashes.

The agreements though largely roll back steps China took following former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan – made over the objection of Beijing.

Asked if he trusted Xi, Biden responded, “Trust but verify as the old saying goes, that’s where I am.” He said the US intended to “compete vigorously” with China, but added, “We’ll manage that competition responsibly, so it doesn’t veer into conflict or accidental conflict.”

As he ended the press conference, though, Biden referred to Xi as a “dictator,” repeating remarks that sparked criticism from China earlier this year.

“Look, he is. He’s a dictator in the sense that he’s a guy who runs a country that is a communist country that’s based on a form of government totally different than ours,” Biden said.

Biden’s off-the-cuff remark followed a day of carefully choreographed meetings that saw the two leaders meet on the sweeping grounds of the Filoli estate in Woodside, about 25 miles south of San Francisco. Their Summit went through multiple sessions and included a working lunch as they and their top aides huddled in a secluded century-old Georgian manor.

The meeting saw an extended discussion of foreign policy, with US officials saying they believe Xi indicated he wasn’t readying plans for a mass invasion of Taiwan. Biden asked the Chinese to respect the electoral process in the island’s upcoming presidential vote, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Biden said he reiterated the US’s One China policy, and “that I’m not going to change that.”

China agreed to policy-level discussions with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, as well as operational engagements at senior military levels, according to US officials. That restores communications channels China halted last year to protest Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.

Since then, US officials have pushed hard to resume the talks. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken detailed a Chinese jet’s intercept of a US B-52 in international airspace over the South China Sea during Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to Washington, according to a person familiar with the discussion.

China said the two countries had agreed to manage disagreements more effectively and have more dialogues and consultations to avoid misunderstandings.

“It is important that they appreciate each other’s principles and red lines, and refrain from flip-flopping, being provocative, and crossing the lines,” according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On AI, the two sides agreed to a dialogue to keep the emerging technology from being deployed in ways that could destabilize global security.

Ahead of the Summit, the US and China also released a statement detailing new commitments to cooperate on climate change, with promises to build carbon-capture facilities, curtail power sector pollution, and take aim at the full suite of greenhouse gases helping warm the planet.