Washington/Beijing: US President Joe Biden dialled his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for the first time since taking office and expressed his “fundamental concerns” about China’s coercive and unfair economic practices.
Biden also conveyed his worries over Beijing’s crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang and increasingly assertive actions in the region during the phone call that came hours after the Pentagon announced a task force on China.
China’s Lunar New Year
During the phone call, the first between both leaders after Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the US on January 20, Biden also shared his greetings and well wishes with the Chinese people on the occasion of the Lunar New Year on Friday.
The White House, in a readout of the call, said Biden affirmed his priorities of protecting the American people’s security, prosperity, health, and way of life, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.
South China Sea tensions
China claims most of the 1.3 million sq. m South China Sea as its sovereign territory and has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region that are also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
“President Biden underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing’s coercive and unfair economic practices, the crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan,” the White House said.
India-China standoff
China and India have been engaged in a tense standoff in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.
Biden had said he would not immediately cancel the trade pact former president Donald Trump had struck with China nor take steps to scrap tariffs on Chinese exports.
Unfair trade practices
The Biden administration is planning a review of the previous administration’s posture toward China, including its crackdown on unfair trade practices.
Uighur detention
China has been under fire from the West over reports of mass detention of Uighurs and other minorities in its Xinjiang province.
Hong Kong crackdown
The US also condemned China’s attacks on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, where China has ramped up a crackdown after imposing a new law against subversion following major protests.
COVID-19
During the phone call, Biden and Xi exchanged views on countering COVID-19, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and stopping arms proliferation.
“Biden is committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies,” the White House said.
Xi Jinping strikes conciliatory tone
President Xi, meanwhile, struck a conciliatory tone and said the growth of China-US ties has been the most important development in international relations over the past half-century and more.
Xi said China and the US gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Cooperation is the only right choice for both sides, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
He emphasized that while both sides may differ on some issues, it is crucial to show mutual respect, treat each other as equals, and properly manage and handle the differences constructively.
China’s internal affairs
He said the Taiwan question and issues relating to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, etc., are “China’s internal affairs” and concern its “sovereignty and territorial integrity”, and the US should respect China’s core interests and act prudently.
Xi said confronting a highly uncertain international situation, China and the US should shoulder special global responsibilities and obligations as permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Peace in Asia-Pacific
Both sides, he added, should act to “conform to the trend of the world, jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and make historic contributions to promoting world peace and development”.
“You have said America can be defined in one word: Possibilities. We hope the possibilities will now point toward an improvement of China-US relations,” Xi told Biden.
The two countries, he suggested, should make “joint efforts in the same direction, follow the spirit of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, manage their differences, and work for the sound and stable development” of China-US relations.
Fighting Covid-19 pandemic
In this way, they can “deliver more tangible benefits to people in both countries, and make their due contribution to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting world economic recovery and maintaining regional peace and stability”, Xi added.
Further talks
He said the foreign affairs departments of both nations may have in-depth communications on wide-ranging matters in the bilateral relationship and major international and regional issues.
The economic, financial, law enforcement and military authorities of the two countries may also have more contacts, he added.
Biden’s call with Xi comes after similar conversations with leaders of key allies and friends in the Indo-Pacific: Australia, Japan, India and South Korea.