De-escalating US tensions with China

THE meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in California on Wednesday (Nov 15) may not have reset relations between the two countries, but the less contentious tone during their rendezvous could help produce a new, more cooperative spirit when it comes to the world’s most important geo-strategic and geo-economic relationship.

Relations between Beijing and Washington in recent times have been near the lowest point since the US opening to China in the 1970s, with tensions rising over several issues of geopolitical or strategic significance – Taiwan; technology; the South China Sea; China’s aid to Russia during the latter’s war with Ukraine; and more recently, China’s improving ties with Iran.

So with the bar being set so low, it seemed that any progress in the relationship between the two countries during the meeting, held on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, would create a sense of guarded optimism and bilateral good feelings.