Biden and Xi's Last Meeting Before the Change in US Leadership

This Saturday, President Joe Biden will meet with China’s President Xi Jinping for the last time during a summit of Pacific leaders in Peru.

This gathering concludes Biden's attempts to manage US-China relations before he transfers power to President-elect Donald Trump in January.

It is their third meeting since Biden assumed office.

Unlike previous discussions, the meeting in Lima will focus more on reflection than on achieving tangible outcomes.

This occurs in the context of Trump’s election victory, which promises a tougher stance on China.

Trump has already assigned China critics to key roles, indicating a potentially confrontational approach.

Current US officials hope the communication channels between the two countries will help reduce potential misunderstandings.

As Biden leaves office, he presents Trump with complex challenges, including Russia’s influence, cross-strait tensions, conflicts in the South China Sea, and cybersecurity issues.

Under Xi, China has bolstered its ties with Russia, Iran, and North Korea, raising US concerns.

Xi's recent military maneuvers near Taiwan and the opening of a $1.3 billion port in Peru have further shifted global power dynamics.

Trump initially sought strong ties with Xi, but their relationship suffered due to trade disputes and COVID-19 tensions.

With advisors such as Rep. Mike Waltz and possibly Sen. Marco Rubio advocating a tough stance on China, Trump’s future strategy with China remains uncertain.

Trump’s commitment to tariffs on Chinese imports could signal a more confrontational US-China relationship.

This meeting echoes a similar transition eight years ago when former President Obama met Xi in Lima after Trump’s first election victory, pondering the potential for a changing bilateral relationship.