When President Biden and China’s leader, Xi Jinping, convened on Saturday in Peru, they engaged in what may have been their final direct conversation regarding the intense rivalry between their nations, which Mr. Biden has aimed to prevent from escalating into outright conflict.
However, both leaders appeared to be addressing an absent figure: Donald J. Trump, who has vowed to adopt a more confrontational stance towards China if he returns to the presidency in January. Mr. Xi, in his opening statement, seemed to issue a serious caution as U.S.-China relations head into a new phase of unpredictability following the American elections. “Make the wise choice,” he remarked in a conference hall at the hotel where the Chinese delegation was staying. “Continue to seek the right way for two major nations to coexist peacefully.”
In his own introductory remarks, Mr. Biden appeared to advocate for sustaining a relationship with Beijing, particularly as Mr. Trump discusses enacting stricter tariffs on China and appointing hardliners to key administration roles. “These discussions help prevent miscalculations and ensure that the competition between our two countries does not escalate into conflict — it should be competition, not conflict,” he stated.
