The US and China have agreed to restore high-level military communication and take steps to curb fentanyl production following a meeting Wednesday between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping.
Biden touted the resumption of military communication during a rare news conference, saying, “We’re back to direct, open, clear, direct communications.”
Chinese state media said Xi called on the United States to “not scheme to suppress or contain China.” He also urged the US to stop arming Taiwan and support China’s “peaceful reunification,” state media said.
The meeting appeared to accomplish Biden’s initial goal of steadying the relationship between the two nations. But the US president summed up his approach as, “Trust, but verify.”
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Biden raised human rights concerns in Xinjiang and Tibet during talks with Xi, White House says
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
President Joe Biden raised concerns of China’s “human rights abuses” in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong during his nearly four-hour-long talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, according to the White House’s readout of the meeting.
Biden described the meeting as “some of the most productive” talks. In a rare news conference following the summit, the president touted the resumption of military-to-military communications and shared that the two leaders agreed on curbing the flow of fentanyl.
Biden accuses Hamas of “war crime” for operating what US and Israel claim is command node at Gaza hospital
From CNN's Betsy Klein and Donald Judd
US President Joe Biden accused Hamas of committing a “war crime” for operating what the US and Israel have claimed is a command node under the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza.
Biden said he discussed the dangerous situation at the hospital, Gaza’s largest, during his meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday.
Some context: Israeli forces launched a raid early Wednesday morning on Al-Shifa, after accusing Hamas of operating from tunnels beneath the vast complex – a claim denied by the militant group and hospital officials.
CNN cannot verify either side’s claims.
Israel said its troops found “military equipment used by Hamas,” the military said in a statement but offered no evidence yet of a vast tunnel network it claimed was used by the militant group.
Israel said it will present more evidence to support their claims of a Hamas command center, an adviser to the prime minister told CNN Wednesday.
Conditions at Al-Shifa, which has run out of fuel and is no longer considered operational, have deteriorated rapidly in recent days amid intense fighting, with doctors warning of a “catastrophic” situation for patients, staff and displaced people still inside.
Wednesday’s raid has also sparked widespread international criticism.
Biden noted that the US has called on Israel to be “incredibly careful” as it targets Hamas in the area, but suggested that action was justified.
“We discussed the need for them to be incredibly careful. You have a circumstance where you know there is a fair number of Hamas terrorists. Hamas has already said publicly that they plan on attacking Israel again, like they did before.”
The president also noted the savagery of Hamas’ October 7 attacks in Israel. “And so, the idea that they’re going to just stop and not do anything is not realistic,” he added.
Israeli forces, he suggested, are “bringing in incubators” and “other means to help the people in the hospital,” adding that there have been efforts to get doctors, nurses, and other personnel out of harm’s way.
Evidence: In a follow-up exchange with CNN, Biden told MJ Lee, “Yes,” he was absolutely confident based on intelligence he’d seen that Hamas was operating a command center under the Al-Shifa hospital, but declined to share details on the evidence.
“No, I can’t tell you—I won’t tell you,” he told CNN.
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Biden says Xi is a "dictator" hours after summit
US President Joe Biden looks on as he holds a press conference about his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping before the start of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Woodside, California, on November 15.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
President Joe Biden doubled down on his previous comments and called Chinese President Xi Jinping a “dictator” just hours after the two leader met for a summit, which he described as “some of the most productive” talks.
Asked by CNN’s MJ Lee if the president would still describe Xi as a dictator as he has in the past, Biden said:”Well look, he is.”
Biden says talks with Xi were "some of the most productive" between the 2 leaders
From CNN's Kevin Liptak and Betsy Klein
US President Joe Biden greets Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' week in Woodside, California, on November 15.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
US President Joe Biden reflected on the state of his relationship with China’s President Xi Jinping following what he described as a constructive and productive meeting.
He said the talks with Xi were “some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had.”
“We haven’t always agreed,” Biden said, but his talks with Xi are always “straightforward.”
Pressed on whether he trusts Xi, Biden said, “Trust but verify, as the old saying goes. That’s where I am,” describing the relationship between the US and China as “competitive.”
Biden cultivated a deep relationship with Xi during their time as vice presidents that has since deteriorated. Still, he cast Xi as “straight.”
“I know the man, I know his modus operandi, looked into his eyes – we have disagreements. He has a different view than I have on a lot of things, but he’s been straight. I don’t mean that good, better, indifferent, just straight,” he said.
Biden said the leaders agreed to be willing to pick up the phone if either wants to talk going forward.
Biden says the two leaders agreed on curbing the flow of fentanyl, restoring military communication and working together on artificial intelligence during their four-hour summit.
Biden said the agreement from China to reduce precursor chemicals for fentanyl would “save lives” and said he appreciated Xi’s commitment on the issue.
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Biden says he reiterated US position on Taiwan during meeting with Xi
President Joe Biden said Wednesday evening that he reiterated US “One China” policy during talks with the Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier in the day.
Under Washington’s longstanding “One China” policy, the US acknowledges China’s position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never officially recognized Beijing’s claim to the island.
CNN’s Eric Cheung and Nectar Gan contributed to this post.
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Biden raised human rights, detained US citizens during meeting with Xi
President Joe Biden raised areas of concerns about China’s actions as they relate to detained US citizens, human rights and “coercive activities in the South China Sea” with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Biden said he provided Xi with the names of those thought to be detained during their meeting Wednesday in California.
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Biden touts resumption of military-to-military communication with China
From CNN's Kaanita Iyer
US President Joe Biden walks to attend a press conference about his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping before the start of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Woodside, California, on November 15.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
President Joe Biden on Wednesday evening touted that his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping resulted in the resumption of communication between the US and Chinese militaries.
The two countries have gradually been restoring communications after Beijing cut those ties in August 2022, following a visit from then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.
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NOW: Biden is speaking at a news conference
US President Joe Biden is speaking at a solo news conference in California following his meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping.
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Xi calls on US not to “suppress or contain” China, Chinese state media reports
From CNN’s Simone McCarthy
Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a meeting with US President Joe Biden, not pictured, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' week in Woodside, California, on November 15.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Chinese leader Xi Jinping called on the United States to “not scheme to suppress or contain China” during extensive talks with President Joe Biden near San Francisco on Wednesday, Chinese state media reported.
The two leaders “emphasized the need for mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, maintaining communication and conflict prevention,” according to Xinhua.
The meeting marked a significant step forward for the two powers, which have gradually been restoring communications after Beijing cut those ties in August 2022, following a visit from then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.
The two countries agreed to resume high-level military communication and cooperate on anti-drug crackdown, as well as resume meetings between their defense ministries and maritime military security consultations, and start talks between leaders of theatre commands, Xinhua said.
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Xi urges US to show real commitment in not supporting “Taiwan independence”
From CNN's Nectar Gan
Chinese leader Xi Jinping told US President Joe Biden the United States should “take real actions to honor its commitment of not supporting ‘Taiwan Independence’,” Chinese state media reported.
In the two leaders’ meeting, Xi urged the US to stop arming Taiwan and support China’s “peaceful reunification,” according to a readout released by Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
The Chinese leader also noted that the Taiwan issue has always been “the most important and sensitive issue” in US-China relations, according to Xinhua.
Xi’s remarks on Taiwan come as the self-ruled island is gearing up for a key presidential election in January, where tensions with China are set to be a top item on the campaign agenda.
China’s ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as its territory, despite never having controlled the island of 23 million people. Xi has vowed to never renounce the use of force to “reunify” with Taiwan.
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Biden and Xi discussed Middle East and Taiwan, US official says
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a bilateral meeting at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, on November 15.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
President Joe Biden did most of the talking as Chinese President Xi Jinping mostly listened in their conversation about the Middle East, a senior US official said.
Biden encouraged Xi to use China’s leverage with Iran to warn against a wider escalation. In the talks, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said they’d already held discussions with the Iranians on the topic.
It remained unclear to Biden’s aides afterward how seriously Iran was taking China’s messages.
Biden made clear to Xi during the talks that he viewed Hamas as separate from the Palestinians.
The men had a “substantial” exchange on Taiwan and Xi made clear that concerns over the island were the biggest and most dangerous issue in US-China relations.
Xi said China’s preference was for peaceful reunification and laid out conditions under which use of force would be utilized. Biden responded by reiterating the US position was to maintain peace and stability in the region.
“President Xi responded, ‘Look, peace is all well and good, but at some point we need to move towards resolution more generally,’” the official said.
In the meeting, the US asked China to respect Taiwan’s electoral process in the lead-up to a vote in January.
Despite continuing US concerns about China’s massive military buildup around Taiwan, officials emerged from the meeting believing Xi was not preparing for a massive invasion.
Over the course of the meeting, Xi “revealed quite clearly a deep knowledge of some of the debates about China in the United States and I think in some respects, he’s quite sensitive to come of those discussions.”
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Biden-Xi talks included "very direct" exchanges on technology, economy and nuclear issues, US official says
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s summit talks in California were “very direct” and included more back-and-forth discussion between the two men than their meeting a year ago, a senior US official said.
Biden was “very direct” with Xi on a number of topics, the official said, while Xi also raised his concerns about rhetoric inside the United States about China.
At one point, Xi told Biden he believed there was unfair negative publicity about the Chinese Communist Party in the United States.
In one exchange about restrictions the US has applied on technology exports to China, Xi likened the steps to “technological containment.” Biden responded by saying the US was not going to provide technology to China that could be used militarily against it.
Biden also raised direct concerns to Xi about harassment of American businesses in China, the official said.
The two men discussed artificial intelligence and agreed to work together moving ahead on the new technology.
And Biden told Xi it was important for China to be more transparent on nuclear issues, as it rapidly expands its arsenal.
Biden did not “pull any punches,” the official said, noting Xi experiences little pushback within the Chinese system.
Biden was “respectful” but “clear.”
The moments of tension, however, were interspersed with some levity. When Biden wished Xi’s wife a happy birthday (which happens to fall on the same day as Biden’s birthday next week), Xi said he’d been working so hard he’d forgotten.
He thanked Biden for reminding him.
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Biden and Xi agreed to steps on fentanyl and restoring military communication in talks, official says
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
US President Joe Biden greets Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' week in Woodside, California on November 15.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to take steps to curb fentanyl production and restore military communication during their summit Wednesday, a senior US official told CNN.
Biden also made clear China should lean on Iran to avoid steps that would aggravate the tense situation in the Middle East. The leaders also stressed that they wanted to stabilize their countries’ relationship after months of heightened tension.
The results, which were expected ahead of the talks, amount to progress in improving the still-tense US-China relationship but they stopped short of a joint statement or other declaration of cooperation.
The senior US official said China agreed to go after companies who produce precursor chemicals to fentanyl, the powerful narcotic that has fueled a drug crisis in the United States. The US will watch closely to see if China follows up on the commitments made in the summit.
Xi also agreed to mechanisms that would address potential military miscalculations and agreed to forums for the two sides to present their concerns.
Senior administration officials said leading up to Wednesday’s summit that their Chinese counterparts had been “reluctant” over the past few months to agree to re-establishing military-to-military communications.
But it was an issue that Biden himself – and his top advisers like Secretary of State Antony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin – raised in “nearly every conversation we’ve had with the Chinese,” as the US tried to underscore that it was “absolutely critical” that this channel be re-opened.
US officials said that the Chinese spy balloon incident, in particular, underscored the importance of military-to-military communications.
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China and US to resume high-level military communication and cooperate on drug crackdown, state media says
From CNN's Nectar Gan
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden agreed to resume high-level military communication and cooperate on anti-drug crackdown following their hours-long summit, Chinese state media reported.
The leaders agreed to “resume high-level communication between the two militaries on the basis of equality and respect,” according to a readout released by China’s state agency Xinhua. The two sides will also resume meetings between their defense ministries and maritime military security consultations and start talks between leaders of theatre commands.
The two sides also agreed to establish an anti-drug working group to carry out anti-drug cooperation, as well as an intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence, Xinhua reported.
The two leaders also pledge to further increase flights early next year and expand exchanges in education, international students, and the culture, sports and business sectors, according to Xinhua.
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Biden-Xi summit has concluded
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
US President Joe Biden’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping has concluded, the White House said.
The two presidents began their meeting just after 2 p.m. ET. Following opening remarks, several sessions and a working lunch, the two leaders closed out with a walk around the historic estate south of San Francisco.
Biden told reporters during the walk that the talks were going “well,” and added on social media that “real progress” was made.
Biden is expected to hold a solo press conference in the 7 p.m. ET hour.
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Biden says "real progress" made in meeting with Xi
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
US President Joe Biden said on social media he has made “real progress” in his talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Biden and Xi have been meeting for hours at a historic estate south of San Francisco.
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Biden takes a walk with Xi, says talks are going "well"
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk together after a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' week in Woodside, California, on November 15.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping took a walk following their working lunch on Wednesday.
The men walked very slowly side-by-side down a brick walkway, each wearing their suit jackets.
They did not have a translator with them and did not appear in heavy conversation, aside from Biden pointing out something in the trees.
Biden waved with both hands to reporters. When asked how talks were going, he made a thumbs-up sign and said: “Well.”
Biden is expected to hold a solo press conference once the summit has concluded. The two presidents began their meeting just after 2 p.m. ET.
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By the numbers: Biden's news conferences
From CNN's Betsy Klein
President Joe Biden’s news conference Wednesday in the Bay Area will mark the president’s 32nd news conference since taking office, according to CNN’s analysis.
It is rare for Biden to hold a solo news conference: This marks his 14th solo news conference since taking office, and the third solo news conference of 2023. He has held 18 joint news conferences alongside another world leader.
The average length of Biden’s solo news conferences is 38 minutes – the longest was 111 minutes and shortest was 16 minutes.
Former President Donald Trump, by contrast, held 88 news conferences overall during his presidency, and at the same point in his presidency, he had held 54 news conferences, per an analysis of University of California-Santa Barbara data. Former President Barack Obama held 163 news conferences and had held 63 at this point in his presidency. And former President George W. Bush held 210 news conferences during his presidency, and 62 at this point in his presidency.
Recent presidents who had held fewer news conferences at this point include former President Ronald Reagan, at 20, and former President Richard Nixon, at 22.
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Here's what Biden and Xi are eating for lunch
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
President Joe Biden is now participating in working lunch with Chinese President Xi Jinping following the first session of their summit, which lasted nearly two hours.
The two leaders are joined by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, along with two Chinese officials, according to the White House.
The White House also shared the lunch menu, which includes:
Herbed Ricotta Ravioli
Artichoke Crisps
Tarragon roasted Heritage Chicken
Carolina Gold Rice Pilaf
Charred Broccolini + Brussels Sprouts
Almond Meringue Cake
Praline Buttercream
Concord Grape Sauce
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First session of Biden-Xi summit ends
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a bilateral meeting at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the APEC summit, in Woodside, California, on November 15.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
The first session of the summit between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping ended after a little more than two hours.
The leaders still have two more closed-press sessions before the summit concludes.
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Xi emphasizes bilateral cooperation in meeting with Biden ahead of APEC summit
From CNN's Mitchell McCluskey
Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of cooperation ahead of his meeting with US President Joe Biden on Wednesday ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in San Francisco.
Xi addressed the “grave problems” that have existed in the world economy since the two leaders last met a year ago in Bali.
“The world has emerged from the Covid pandemic but is still under its tremendous impacts. The global economy is recovering, but its momentum remains sluggish,” Xi said.
Xi called the US-China relationship “the most important bilateral relationship in the world.”
The Chinese leader said that the relationship “should develop in a way that benefits our two people and fulfills our responsibility for human progress.”
Xi noted that historically the US-China relationship has “never been smooth sailing.”
“Yet it has kept moving forward amid twists and turns,” Xi said.
Xi remarked that the leaders have a responsibility to work together for the betterment of their countries and the rest of the world.
“We shoulder heavy responsibilities for the two peoples, for the world, and for history,” Xi said.
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The setting of Biden and Xi's meeting has an extensive history
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
US President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of APEC in Woodside, California on November 15.
The Georgian revival-style mansion has a history on the large and small screen: It was seen from the air in the opening credits of the series “Dynasty,” and served as a set piece in 1997’s “George of the Jungle.”
In true California fashion, the home was built in 1917 for William Bowers Bourn II, the owner of gold mines. He chose the name by combing a few letters from his personal credo: “Fight for a just cause. Love your Fellow Man. Live a Good Life.” In 1975, it was donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The building has 56 rooms, including servants quarters. It is surrounded by 16 acres of manicured formal gardens, separated by hedges and brick walls. It’s a popular wedding venue for Silicon Valley’s tech executives.
Normally, it welcomes visitors. But on Wednesday, its website announced a closure from November 13 to 15 “while we deck the halls for the Holidays!”
The location for Biden and Xi’s summit wasn’t disclosed ahead of time, as officials worked to avoid demonstrations or security issues.
As they surveyed possible venues, officials took into account security considerations and how much the space could accommodate. But there were more superficial factors at play, too — like the look and feel of the venue, one source said.
“All the logistical arrangements are pretty intense, as you would imagine,” one senior US administration official said.
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Biden and Xi reminisce over their long history
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
In their opening remarks, both President Biden Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping made reference to their long relationship, cultivated when they were both vice presidents.
“We’ve known each other for a long time,” Biden told Xi, saying while they don’t always agree — “which wouldn’t surprise anyone” — their meetings have always been “candid, straightforward and useful.”
Xi also went down memory lane.
When Biden was serving as vice president, he was dispatched to take the temperature of the new Chinese vice president. The men traveled together across China, a trip Biden often references in his speeches.
At the time, it was clear to Obama administration officials that Xi was poised to become president. What few officials could have predicted at the time was that Biden would also be president 12 years later.
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Biden tells Xi competition cannot turn into conflict
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
President Joe Biden welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the APEC summit, in Woodside, California, on Wednesday.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
US President Joe Biden said it is essential he and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have a frank understanding of each other as they begin a high-stakes summit in California.
Biden said competition between US and China could not tilt toward conflict and added that his past meetings with Xi had been “candid, straightforward and useful.”
“As always, there is no substitute to face to face discussions. I’ve always found our discussions straightforward and frank,” Biden said.
Biden said the leaders had a responsibility to their populations to work together, including on issues of climate change, countering narcotics trafficking and approaching artificial intelligence.
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Biden welcomes Xi for summit talks in California
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
US President Joe Biden shakes hands with President Xi Jinping of China on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.
Pool
President Joe Biden has welcomed his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for their summit in California.
The two men greeted each other warmly outside a Georgian revival-style mansion south of San Francisco where the talks will occur.
The optics of the summit were carefully negotiated between the two sides and the formal welcome to the estate was highly choreographed.
As host of the meeting, Biden walked out of the building first to welcome Xi. A red carpet had been rolled out, with Marine guards and flags from both countries.
Xi’s black sedan pulled up and stopped at the end of the carpet. The Chinese leader emerged with a smile and the two men shook hands, each grasping the others’ wrists.
The leaders walked inside and didn’t answer any questions.
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Biden meeting Xi at historic estate south of San Francisco
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
President Joe Biden is meeting his Chinese counterpart Wednesday at a historic estate south of San Francisco, a person familiar with the planning says, after months of careful planning by officials on both sides.
The estate, built in 1917, features a Georgian mansion and acres of gardens within the coastal range south of the city.
The location wasn’t formally announced until the two leaders arrived for their summit talks, and it wasn’t disclosed by the White House ahead of time.
White House officials scouted a number of venues, sources said, taking into account security considerations and how much the space could accommodate. But there were more superficial factors at play, too – like the look and feel of the venue, one source said.
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GOP presidential candidate Ramaswamy urges Biden to take hardline stance with Xi
From CNN's Aaron Pellish
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy laid out what he said were a list of “basic priorities” for President Joe Biden ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.
He urged Biden to take a hardline stance with the Chinese leader in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Ramaswamy included a “hard commitment” from China to not invade Taiwan and an announcement of “financial accountability over Covid” as among his list of desired outcomes for the meeting.
Biden’s high-stakes meeting with Xi is taking place at a historic estate south of San Francisco, California.
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Analysis: Here's Xi’s agenda as the Chinese leader heads to California
From CNN's Simone McCarthy
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives at San Francisco International Airport ahead of the APEC summit on November 14, in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Xi Jinping is making his first visit to the US in six years this week for a highly anticipated summit with US President Joe Biden — where the Chinese leader will likely try to bolster his country’s troubled economy and push back on perceived US efforts to suppress it.
That Xi is even touching down in California for the four-day visit, which includes his attendance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation international forum, is remarkable in itself.
The leaders of the world’s top two economies have not spoken since they last met on the sidelines of another international gathering in Bali, Indonesia,in November 2022.
Expectations for major breakthroughs at this week’s meeting are low.
Xi is arriving in California as he struggles to revive a faltering Chinese economy yet tofullyrebound after his strict pandemic controls were relaxed, with the property market in crisis and record youth unemployment.
The economic woes, combined with the unexplained removal of two hand-picked officials at the top of his government, have tarnished the image that Xi projected the last time he met Biden, when he’d just consolidated power and started a norm-shattering third term leading China.
Biden, meanwhile, finds himself strapped with international challenges from the war in Ukraine to the latest conflict in Gaza. Another global flashpoint involving China is the last thing he would want to see, especially as he vies for re-election next year.
With conflicts raging in the Middle East and Europe as he prepares to fight for reelection, Biden hopes to prevent another crisis from exploding on his watch. He is not only looking to demonstrate to Americans – but also to Xi directly – why an improved relationship with Beijing is in everyone’s interests.
Ahead of the talks, US officials were careful to manage expectations, saying they did not expect a long list of outcomes or even a joint leaders’ statement, as is customary following summits between leaders.
Instead, the primary objective for the talks appeared to be restoring channels of communication, principally through the military, to avoid the type of miscommunication or miscalculation US officials fear could lead to open conflict.
Biden said ahead of his departure for California that he would define success for the sit-down as getting back on a “normal course” with China. He said that included “corresponding, being able to pick up the phone and talk to one another if there’s a crisis, being able to make sure that our militaries still have contact with one another.”
For the better part of the last year, US officials have been laying the groundwork for this week’s Biden-Xi summit. With the aim of reestablishing diplomatic channels between the two countries, national security adviser Jake Sullivan has met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi three times, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and US climate envoy John Kerry have all traveled to Beijing.
The overtures have been extended in the other direction too, with China’s senior-most officials —including its foreign minister — traveling to the US to meet with their American counterparts.
US officials said that working-level consultations had been established with Beijing on especially sensitive topics like arms control and maritime issues.
“Now is precisely the time for high-level diplomacy,” a senior administration official said. “Intense competition requires and demands intense diplomacy to manage tensions and to prevent competition from verging into conflict or confrontation.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talks to reporters following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the Capitol on November 7, in Washington, DC.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was sharply critical of President Joe Biden’s efforts to counter China on numerous fronts ahead of the Biden’s meeting with Xi Jinping.
“The stakes of the competition simply cannot be overstated,” McConnell said as he cited Chinese advancements in military capabilities and alliances, pursuit of rare minerals critical to supply chain, and aggressive efforts to steal Western technologies.
“Strategic competition with China is going to determine the course of the next century of American history. And yet, the Biden administration has too often met this historic moment with weakness and naïveté. Time and time again, it has sacrificed competition on the altar of green climate policy,” he said.
He also complained that China is making large increases in military spending each year while the Biden administration’s budget request “haven’t even kept up with inflation.”
McConnell said Congress can address those shortfalls when it deals with the National Defense Authorization Act and a national security supplemental spending bill in the coming weeks.
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Biden is preparing to discuss Israel and Ukraine wars with Xi
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
US President Joe Biden, right, and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands as they meet on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on November 14, 2022.
Members of the American and Chinese delegations plan to discuss both conflicts in their intensive, multi-hour meetings in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to senior administration officials, and Biden and his national security advisers will seek to convince their Chinese counterparts it is in Beijing’s interests to use its leverage with Russia and Iran to keep both wars contained.
The global unrest ratchets up the stakes of Biden’s sit-down with Xi, their first face-to-face meeting in a year.
As Biden confronts two presidency-defining conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, he is eager to improve ties with Beijing and prevent another crisis from exploding on his watch. The US has sought to manage expectations for the talks, pointing to the restoration of military communication and an agreement to curb narcotics trafficking as top objectives.
Biden told reporters Tuesday that his objective in meeting with Xi will be to normalize communication channels between the two powers. Asked how he defined success for Wednesday’s sit-down, Biden said, “To get back on a normal course.”
He said that included “corresponding, being able to pick up the phone and talk to one another if there’s a crisis, being able to make sure that our militaries still have contact with one another.” American officials have been working to restore military communications with China after Beijing severed them last year.
Among US concerns is the risk for miscalculation or miscommunication that leads to conflict, including in the tense waters around Taiwan and the South China Sea.
He cited China’s relative economic weakness and said he was looking to cement a relationship that benefits both countries.
Inside the remarkably intricate planning for Biden’s meeting with Xi
From CNN's MJ Lee and Kevin Liptak
US officials encountered a remarkable – even unprecedented – level of concern from their Beijing counterparts over how Chinese President Xi Jinping would be treated during his brief visit to the United States this week, people familiar with the matter said.
Over months of intricate planning, Chinese officials demonstrated an enormous amount of focus on ensuring every piece of choreography surrounding Xi’s summit with President Joe Biden on Wednesday – down to where Xi would sit and what he might see out of the window at any given moment – would guarantee the Chinese leader was treated with respect, sources familiar with the planning told CNN.
That included the timing and location of the summit, which is occurring amid a larger gathering of Pacific leaders in San Francisco. Instead of meeting in one of the many rooms set aside for bilateral meetings at the cavernous Moscone convention hall, the two men will meet at a separate location outside San Francisco city limits.
Even after confirming that Biden and Xi would meet, administration officials would only describe the location of the summit as the “Bay area,” citing security concerns. The still-to-be-disclosed venue for Wednesday’s summit was kept a secret from even members of the White House press corps traveling with Biden to San Francisco until hours before the meeting.
White House officials scouted a number of venues, sources said, taking into account security considerations and how much the space could accommodate. But there were more superficial factors at play, too — like the look and feel of the venue, one source said.
Even the flowers, food and drink have been subject to intense discussions between the two sides, which each hope the meeting will result in reduced strain between the US and China.
