The world is watching closely as the possibility of a final meeting between Biden and Xi looms, ahead of Trump’s potential return to power.

 The world is watching closely as the possibility of a final meeting between Biden and Xi looms, ahead of Trump’s potential return to power.

Today, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet in Lima, Peru, ahead of Donald Trump's potential return to the White House next January. This summit, which comes on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference, aims to address ongoing tensions between the two nations. However, challenges such as cybercrime, trade disputes, Taiwan, and China's support for Russia remain significant points of contention.

This will be the first face-to-face meeting between Biden and Xi in seven months. The timing of their discussion has not been disclosed, but it is seen as an important opportunity to address issues straining the U.S.-China relationship. The APEC summit has underscored global concerns about Trump’s prospects for a second term and the potential impact on international relations.

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Key issues include allegations of China-backed cyberattacks targeting U.S. government communications and political campaigns, as well as Beijing’s increasing pressure on Taiwan. The Chinese government considers Taiwan part of its territory, and recent diplomatic exchanges—such as Taiwanese President Lai Ching’s visits to the U.S.—have infuriated Beijing. Furthermore, the Biden administration's trade policies have placed significant strain on China's economy, with plans to restrict U.S. investment in Chinese tech sectors like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and semiconductors.

China has denied U.S. hacking accusations, maintaining that Taiwan is a domestic issue and rejecting Washington's criticism of China’s ties with Russia. While there has been no official comment from the Chinese Embassy in Washington regarding Biden and Xi’s upcoming meeting, Beijing's stance on these matters is unlikely to change.

Amidst these tensions, Trump has pledged to impose tariffs of over 60% on Chinese imports if he regains the presidency. Beijing strongly opposes this potential move, especially as Trump is already assembling a team of staunchly anti-China officials, including Senator Marco Rubio, whom he has named as his Secretary of State. Meanwhile, Biden’s National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, recently noted that the current transition period could present opportunities for adversaries to take advantage of perceived U.S. vulnerabilities.

Shen Dingli, a Shanghai-based international relations expert, suggests that China may use this meeting to reduce tensions with the U.S., wary of escalating conflicts just as Trump is poised to take office. China’s growing influence in South America is also viewed as a challenge to U.S. dominance in its own hemisphere, with Xi continuing diplomatic talks with Latin American leaders this week.

During his address at the APEC summit on Friday, Xi called for the rejection of unilateralism and protectionism in favor of global economic cooperation, signaling China’s strategic stance as it navigates a potentially more adversarial U.S. under Trump. The outcome of today’s meeting between Biden and Xi could set the tone for U.S.-China relations in the year to come.

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