Biden, Xi Jinping Hold First Call Since July 2022 Amid Tensions

President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in their first phone conversation in months on Tuesday, reflecting the Biden administration’s cautious approach to fostering communication with China under a ‘trust but verify’ mantra, a strategy adopted by Biden following their landmark summit in November.

The discussion encompassed various topics, including China’s aggressive military maneuvers towards Taiwan, Beijing’s ties with Russia, and ongoing concerns regarding China’s unfair trade practices and non-market economic policies, according to a White House statement.

The call follows Biden and Xi’s meeting in California last November, their first in a year, during which Biden pledged to ‘keep the lines of communication open.’ Despite this, Biden has consistently criticized Xi, referring to him as a ‘dictator’ and emphasizing the need for a ‘trust but verify’ approach in dealing with China.

Describing the conversation as ‘candid and constructive,’ the White House underscored the importance of the call against the backdrop of the two leaders’ meeting, with both Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken scheduled to visit China soon.

In addition to discussing China’s relationship with Russia and its stance towards Taiwan, the presidents also addressed China’s commitment to curbing the flow of fentanyl and advancements in artificial intelligence. The call comes amid reports of Chinese interference in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, a topic that may have been discussed during the call.

A White House official highlighted the administration’s skepticism towards Chinese assurances, stating that the U.S. does not ‘ever really take the Chinese at their word,’ emphasizing the need for verification, as Biden has repeatedly emphasized.

The call coincides with former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to China, where he is expected to meet with Xi Jinping next week. Tensions between China and the U.S. have escalated due to Chinese military actions in the South China Sea, aimed at intimidating Taiwan. While the U.S. does not recognize Taiwan as independent from China, Biden has affirmed support for Taiwan’s democratic processes