Chinese President Xi Jinping established clear boundaries during his discussion with American President Joe Biden, which is seen as a communication directed at the incoming Trump administration. The two leaders convened on the sidelines of the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Lima, Peru, on Saturday for their third and likely final encounter. Xi’s statements are perceived as aimed less at Biden, who is now in a lame-duck phase, and more at President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump has indicated that relations with China may face challenges under his leadership. He has appointed China hawks, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Congressman Mike Waltz (R-FL), to serve as his secretary of state and national security advisor, respectively. The president-elect has pledged to increase tariffs on Chinese products by as much as 60 percent.
Xi remarked that “a new Cold War should not be fought and cannot be won,” asserting that efforts to “contain China’s rise” are both unwise and futile, according to a summary of his comments released by China’s foreign ministry. He emphasized the necessity for actions to align with words and for both nations to treat each other “as equals.”
Xi stated that neither China nor the U.S. should attempt to reshape the other according to their own desires, exert dominance from a “position of strength,” or deny the other the legitimate right to development in order to preserve its leading status. He also outlined four non-negotiable issues regarding the U.S. One of these was Taiwan, the self-governed island that China claims as its own territory, potentially by force.
The Chinese Communist Party has never governed Taiwan, and U.S. political support and arms sales to the island remain contentious points in U.S.-China relations. Xi asserted that if the U.S. is genuinely committed to maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, it must “recognize the true nature of (Taiwan President) Lai Ching-te” and the Democratic Progressive Party, which Beijing regards as separatists. The U.S. should approach “the Taiwan question with extra caution, unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence, and support China’s peaceful reunification,” the statement added.
The other red lines included democracy and human rights, China’s “path and system,” and its “right to development.” Beijing contends that U.S. criticism of its human rights practices, including its treatment of Tibetans and Muslim Uyghurs, as well as its crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong, constitutes interference in its internal matters. Xi also addressed ongoing sensitive issues in the Asia-Pacific region, such as China’s territorial disputes with its neighbors, particularly the Philippines, a U.S. ally, in the South China Sea, which he asserted should be managed through “dialogue and consultation between states” without U.S. involvement.
He reiterated that China maintains a neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and referenced the heightened tensions between North and South Korea, exacerbated by North Korea’s troop deployments to support Russia’s war against Ukraine. “China will not allow conflict and turmoil on the Korean Peninsula. It will not remain passive when its strategic security and core interests are threatened,” the ministry quoted him as saying.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese foreign ministry for a comment. Analysts have shared their perspectives on what Xi’s statements imply for the future. “Xi is trying to convince the U.S. that restraining Lai will promote U.S. interests in preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He is unhappy with the U.S. reaction to Lai’s remarks,” Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific Program, commented on X (formerly Twitter).
“The inclusion of democracy and human rights indicates China’s growing confidence that its efforts to redefine these concepts are succeeding.” Regarding his comments on Korea, Glaser noted, “Xi is expressing dissatisfaction with the deepening U.S.-Japan-South Korea cooperation. This statement follows Xi’s comments on Ukraine and suggests that he perceives the U.S. as exploiting North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war in ways that threaten PRC (People’s Republic of China) interests.”
Wen-Ti Sung, a political analyst and non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, pointed out that China’s red lines focus on domestic issues and Taiwan. Xi aimed to “set the tone for U.S.-China discussions about Taiwan under the Trump administration,” Sung stated.
The Chinese leader’s messaging also considered U.S. partners and allies in other regions, the analyst added. “China needs to adopt a tough stance on Taiwan to justify a softer approach towards other regions like Southeast Asia and Europe.” Prior to their meeting, Biden commended the progress made by both sides since their last in-person meeting during the APEC summit in San Francisco the previous year, which included cooperation on counternarcotics and other areas.
