Devendra Kumar
President Joe Biden recently convened critical diplomacy talks with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, in Washington, amidst increasing global tensions. The meeting underscores the White House’s commitment to managing the intense competition between the two nations responsibly and maintaining open communication channels. Biden emphasized the importance of working together to address global challenges, echoing the State Department’s emphasis on cooperation on issues like climate change, trade, and national security.
The US has been disappointed with China’s support for Russia in the Ukraine war and its relative silence on the Israel-Hamas conflict. American officials believe China has significant leverage with Iran, which is a major backer of Hamas, and hope that Wang’s meeting with Biden will help alleviate some of the tensions in the region.
The meeting between Biden and Wang is a crucial step in rebooting the US-China relationship, which has been strained since 2018 when the Trump administration imposed hefty tariffs on Chinese goods worth 50 billion dollars.
The deterioration in the relationship has been fueled by a range of issues, including rights abuses, the South China Sea, Taiwan, technology, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The two countries have clashed over trade, security, and human rights, leading to a significant cooling of ties. However, Biden’s meeting with Wang represents an opportunity for the two nations to find common ground on issues like climate change, trade, and national security.
Both countries recognize the importance of working together to address global challenges and to find ways to stabilize their increasingly tense relationship. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, Biden emphasized the need for the two nations to manage their competition responsibly and maintain open lines of communication, a sentiment echoed by the State Department. The outcome of the meeting will be crucial in determining the future trajectory of the US-China relationship, which is a significant player in global affairs.