U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their final meeting on Saturday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, as both leaders warned of turbulent times ahead with the looming return of Donald Trump to the White House.
The second and final day of the summit was dominated by concerns over renewed trade wars and potential diplomatic instability, as Trump prepares to take office for a second term. The meeting between Biden and Xi is expected to be their last before Trump’s anticipated return, casting uncertainty on the future of U.S.-China relations.
The White House stated that the discussions on Saturday would focus on managing the “delicate period of transition” and ensuring that U.S.-China competition doesn’t escalate into conflict. Biden and Xi’s talks, which took place on the sidelines of the APEC summit, marked their third face-to-face meeting since Biden assumed office.
Ahead of their 4:00 pm meeting (2100 GMT), Biden and Xi participated in a closed-door retreat with leaders from Canada, Chile, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, and Japan. The APEC summit, which brought together leaders from 21 countries, saw trade tensions and the potential diplomatic upheaval of Trump’s return dominate the agenda.
Trump’s resurgent “America First” agenda and his confrontational stance toward China have raised fears of a return to trade wars and strained alliances. In a speech to the APEC forum, Xi expressed concern over increasing “unilateralism and protectionism,” warning of the potential shift in U.S. policy under Trump’s leadership.
Biden, in his remarks at the summit, emphasized the global “moment of significant political change,” stressing the need for strong U.S. alliances, particularly in countering North Korea’s “dangerous and destabilizing cooperation with Russia” as Pyongyang continues to send troops to fight in Ukraine.
Trump’s electoral victory has sent shockwaves through global markets and diplomatic circles, with the Republican leader signaling a hardline approach to China. His threats to impose tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese imports and his expected appointments of China hawks like Marco Rubio to key positions suggest a tougher stance.
The implications of Trump’s return are far-reaching, potentially derailing Biden’s efforts to reinforce alliances with Japan, South Korea, and other key partners. At the summit, Biden highlighted the importance of these alliances in addressing shared security concerns, including North Korea’s collaboration with Russia.
Discussions between Biden and Xi also touched on sensitive issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea, where tensions have escalated due to China’s military actions. Both leaders agreed on the need to keep communication channels open, particularly military hotlines, to prevent potential miscalculations and reduce the risk of conflict.
