In brief
President Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Lima, Peru, on Saturday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, signaling a possible shift in U.S.-China relations as Donald Trump prepares to return to the presidency. This meeting may have been Biden's final opportunity to engage directly with Xi after years of attempts to manage competition with China while avoiding open conflict.
During the meeting, Xi acknowledged the recent U.S. elections, emphasizing that China's aim for a stable and sustainable relationship with the U.S. has not altered. The Biden administration has focused on shuttle diplomacy and communication strategies to prevent deteriorating relations. However, there are growing concerns that China is less inclined to accommodate U.S. positions.Recent developments have raised alarms among American officials, particularly China's strengthening alliance with Russia and accusations that Chinese hackers breached U.S. telecommunications networks. Additionally, China's military activities around Taiwan and assertiveness in the South China Sea have prompted heightened vigilance from U.S. officials. As Biden concludes his presidency, the future of U.S.-China relations remains uncertain.
