A thaw in US-China ties on the books

Biden-Xi, beyond the photo op

Editorial The Jakarta Post, Indonesia

The

meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and United States President Joe Biden

in Bali, their first in-person meeting as leaders of the superpowers, inevitably attracted much global media attention.

While Mr Xi and Mr Biden found common ground on many global issues, both men stood firm on the most contentious issue that divides them: Taiwan. Any hopes of rapprochement from this encounter must be tempered by the fact that Taiwan remains a potential flashpoint that could impact the Indo-Pacific region and beyond if it turns into a full-scale war.

Still, the meeting helped to ease the tension that has been building between the two countries. When the two most powerful countries on earth collaborate, the rest of the world can take comfort and even profit from the peace and stability this generates.

One only wishes that the two men had come to an agreement on Taiwan, or at least had given signs of possible common ground. Instead, each reiterated their respective positions.

The two powers are now on a collision course (on that issue). We had a foretaste of things to come when China launched its largest military exercises around Taiwan in an angry response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei in August. Thankfully, common sense prevailed in Beijing and Washington, and tension has since eased.

What counts most now is what the two leaders plan to do beyond Bali. During their meeting, Mr Xi asked Mr Biden to send US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing to follow up on some of the issues they discussed. We hope they will also discuss Taiwan, but this time with the genuine intention of de-escalating the tension.

Indonesia can take a mediating role beyond facilitating the Biden-Xi meeting, which took place ahead of this week’s Group of 20 summit in Bali. The few countries that are also taking a neutral position, such as India, should also step in. The US-China rivalry has intensified so much that maybe it is time to call for a referee.

Everyone concerned should work to give diplomacy a chance to work. The alternative, if they stop talking, is World War III, which is not an option.

Reducing US-China tension is in everyone’s interest

Editorial The Daily Star, Bangladesh

We are pleased to see talks between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with early vibes suggesting they have been positive.

The two presidents met on the resort island of Bali, Indonesia, and both expressed their desire for constructive dialogues. That, we believe, is extremely crucial at this juncture, given how tensions between the two sides have been rising in recent years.

Recently, one of the main points of contention between them has been Taiwan. We have seen both China and the US increase their military activities near the island, as well as their rhetoric. Officials from the two sides have also thrown a number of accusations at each other, which only increased tensions.

Needless to say, any form of conflict around Taiwan will negatively affect the entire world, again, and our region will not be spared either. Under the circumstances, we would very much like for any possibility of conflict to be avoided, as would the rest of the world.

Even though both parties had previously expressed similar desires, it is imperative for both to stop any form of provocation, as that could easily lead to escalations potentially resulting in conflict, as we have seen happen in the case of Ukraine. Instead, the two countries, given their influence in the world, should pursue cooperation. Both will benefit from that. 

The US and China also have a huge part to play in resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as well as in avoiding any nuclear war.

We hope they will come to a settlement over their differences, and work to resolve other issues that are plaguing the world, including various economic problems. That, truly, would display the kind of leadership that the world needs from them at this moment.

Bali breakthrough?

Editorial The Statesman, India

The most consequential meeting of the two-day Group of 20 (G-20) Summit in Bali, Indonesia has arguably already taken place.

US President Joe Biden met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the sun-drenched tropical paradise. The leaders sounded much calmer and more reasonable than recent rhetoric emanating from Washington and Beijing had led observers to expect.

The sticking point remains Taiwan, on which both sides are in a bind having upped the ante to a point where any accommodation will be pounced upon by their opponents as surrender.

While reports spoke of the “red lines” the two leaders reportedly laid down in terms of their respective policies towards the island state, there was no delineation of what these were.

There are other thorny issues that the leaders tiptoed around too, ranging from trade disputes to cyber attacks.

Yet, the most watched handshake in recent times between the two presidents does imply that the policy establishments in Washington and Beijing are coming to terms with the fact that while competition and rivalry between the two countries is here to stay, armed conflict even by proxy is not a feasible option in today’s world

Reassuring meeting

Editorial Dawn, Pakistan

The recent one-on-one meeting between Mr Xi Jinping and Mr Joe Biden in Bali reinforces the role personalised communication plays in global diplomacy.

Though the Chinese and American leaders did not make any breakthroughs, the meeting did result in a significant climb-down in rhetoric from both sides.

It was reassuring that Mr Biden said he was not interested in a new Cold War with China, while Mr Xi also struck a conciliatory tone when he observed that there was a need to “elevate the relationship”.

Yet, there was also frank discussion about the respective red lines, with the Chinese leader stressing that Taiwan was “the first red line that must not be crossed”, while the US President was critical of China’s “aggressive actions towards Taiwan”.

The mutual affirmation against the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine was also welcome.

From here, both sides need to continue their cautious engagement.

The US should not fan Taiwanese independence aspirations while Beijing must seek to resolve the Taiwan question peacefully.

However, it is highly unlikely that an age of Sino-US bonhomie is on the horizon. The Pentagon said in its recent National Defence Strategy that China remains America’s most “consequential strategic competitor”.

Dialogue the way to avoid conflict

Editorial The Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan

A battle for supremacy in which China is challenging the international order led by the US is affecting the politics and economy of the entire world.

Engaging in dialogue and preventing the rivalry from developing into a military conflict is the minimum the US and China should do.

The fact that the two leaders exchanged views and confirmed both sides’ positions in the face-to-face meeting is a significant step towards the easing of tensions. On the other hand, it also showed once again that the rift is too deep to produce results in a single summit.

On the Taiwan issue, Mr Biden said the US opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo and objects to China’s coercive actions towards Taiwan.

In response, Mr Xi stressed that the Taiwan issue is at the core of China’s interests and is a red line that must not be crossed in US-China relations. This is a one-sided view that does not allow the US to get involved in the issue.

Mr Xi objected to the US policy of imposing trade restrictions on China to address Beijing’s theft of technology and unfair trade practices, saying such restrictions “undermine international trade rules”. Regarding criticism of human rights violations, Mr Xi argued that his country implements “Chinese-style” democracy.

The bold remarks suggest Mr Xi might be trying to reinforce his reputation as a strong leader to people in China, following the establishment of his long-term leadership at

the Communist Party of China’s National Congress in October.

China’s threats to global peace and free trade, and its disregard for universal values such as human rights and the rule of law have triggered concerns in the whole international community, not just in the US. It is unacceptable that Mr Xi does not understand the situation and dismisses it as interference in internal affairs.

If Mr Xi wants to enhance China’s prestige and stabilise US-China relations, he should reflect on his own words and actions.

Many international problems could be mitigated or resolved if the US and China work together. Mr Biden and Mr Xi are said to have agreed to oppose the use of nuclear weapons or nuclear threats in Ukraine.

Mr Xi needs to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his invasion of Ukraine and stop making nuclear threats against that country. Mr Xi should also change his current stance of tolerating North Korea’s nuclear and missile development and steadily implement United Nations Security Council sanctions resolutions against Pyongyang.