Executive Brief

US-China Relations

Chinese government propaganda hailed the meeting between presidents Biden and Xi in San Francisco on 15 November as a “historical milestone” in Sino-US relations, claiming that Xi reached at least three objectives:

• Stabilizing China-US relations after a year of deterioration.
• Proposing his so-called “San Francisco Vision” framework for future China-US relations, which would rest on five “pillars”

1. Develop the right perception of each other. Xi said “China is committed to having a stable, healthy, and sustainable relationship with the US. At the same time, China has interests that must be safeguarded, principles that must be upheld, and red lines that must not be crossed. We hope that the two countries could be partners that respect each other and coexist in peace.”.
2. Manage differences and disputes. Xi said the countries should “calmly handle their differences, as well as accidents.”
3. Advance mutually beneficial cooperation.
4. Undertake joint responsibilities as major countries.
5. Promote more academic, cultural, and local government exchanges.

Highlighting the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue. Xi said, “China will realize reunification, and this is unstoppable.

International observers noted differences in US and Chinese summit press releases:

• The US press release did not address Xi’s “San Francisco Vision” but said Biden “emphasized that the United States and China are in competition, noting that the United States would continue to invest in the sources of American strength at home and align with allies and partners around the world... the world expects the US and China to manage competition responsibly to prevent it from veering into conflict, confrontation, or a new Cold War..
• The Chinese release said Xi told Biden that China “has no plan to surpass or unseat the United States. Likewise, the United States should not scheme to suppress and contain China.” Xi emphasized, “For China and the United States, turning their back on each other is not an option. It is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other. And a conflict and confrontation have unbearable consequences for both sides.”
• The Chinese release did not mention that the two leaders exchanged views on the Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas conflict or that Biden reaffirmed commitments to defend US allies in the Indo-Pacific region and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China and East China seas.
• The Chinese release did not mention concerns Biden expressed about China’s unfair trade practices.
• The US press release said Biden raised China’s human rights issues and illegal detention and exit bans of Americans; the Chinese release did not mention these subjects.
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