In a pivotal meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Lima, Peru, President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded what may be their final direct dialogue as heads of state. The nearly two-hour conversation marked a bittersweet coda to their 15-year diplomatic relationship, as the clock ticks toward a turbulent U.S.-China dynamic with Donald Trump set to return to office in January.
Amid strained relations, the two leaders made unexpected progress on nuclear safety, reaching an agreement to ensure human oversight in the decision to deploy nuclear weapons. The deal underscores the necessity of preventing artificial intelligence from taking control over nuclear systems, a critical global concern.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan highlighted the breakthrough, stating, “There should be human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry echoed the sentiment, describing the agreement as a joint recognition to “maintain human control” and stressing the need for greater dialogue between the world’s two largest economies.
This achievement comes after years of stalled negotiations on nuclear arms control. A previous working group on the issue was dissolved by Beijing in July as a protest against U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The progress on Saturday reflects a rare alignment of priorities between the two nations.
In addition to the AI breakthrough, discussions touched on the plight of two U.S. citizens imprisoned in China. The Biden administration has classified their detention as wrongful. While details remain scarce, officials indicated incremental progress toward their release, further underscoring the productive tone of the meeting.
With only weeks left in his term, President Biden is striving to insulate U.S.-China relations from potential shocks under Trump’s upcoming administration. Analysts view Saturday’s discussion as a final attempt to build diplomatic guardrails, ensuring some continuity during the transition.
During their meeting, Biden emphasized the importance of direct communication to avoid miscalculations. “These in-person conversations prevent miscalculations and ensure that competition between our two countries does not veer into conflict,” Biden said, reiterating his administration’s focus on “responsibly managing competition.”
This marked a sharp contrast to the confrontational tone of their last meeting at the 2023 APEC summit, where Biden criticized Xi over the Chinese spy balloon incident and publicly referred to him as a “dictator.”
President Xi reciprocated the calls for stability, albeit with subtle warnings about the direction of U.S. policy. “China is ready to work with the new U.S. administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation, and manage differences,” he stated, underscoring Beijing’s intent to maintain a steady relationship despite looming challenges.
However, Xi cautioned against “vicious competition” and efforts to “hurt each other,” signaling apprehension over Trump’s hawkish posture. Earlier in the day, he decried “geopolitical tendencies, unilateralism, and protectionism,” hinting at the uncertainties posed by the incoming administration.
Trump’s return to the White House promises a more combative era in U.S.-China relations. The former president has pledged harsh economic measures, including new tariffs on Chinese imports. Additionally, his Cabinet selections signal a significant departure from Biden’s approach of stabilizing ties.
Trump has nominated Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a vocal critic of Beijing, as Secretary of State. Representative Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) is poised to become National Security Adviser, and former Representative John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), known for his aggressive stance on China, has been tapped to lead the CIA. These appointments indicate a hardline strategy that prioritizes decoupling and confrontation.
China’s response to Trump’s electoral victory has been muted, with Xi offering a perfunctory congratulatory message. Official media, however, has voiced concerns over the incoming administration’s impact on bilateral ties.
The AI-nuclear agreement and discussions on humanitarian issues are significant, but they may represent the limit of cooperation in the waning days of the Biden presidency. The two nations still grapple with major points of contention, including Taiwan, trade policies, human rights, and Beijing’s military expansion in the South China Sea.
Xi’s statement about avoiding a “new Cold War” encapsulates Beijing’s broader apprehensions about the Trump administration. The Chinese leader’s call for “more dialogue and cooperation” reflects a desire to mitigate the fallout of policy shifts under a Republican-led White House.
The APEC summit itself provided a backdrop of geopolitical tensions. Leaders from 21 member economies converged to discuss trade, climate change, and regional security. However, the Biden-Xi meeting dominated headlines, illustrating the centrality of U.S.-China relations to global stability.
In a year marked by trade disputes, technology restrictions, and military posturing, the cooperative tone of Saturday’s meeting stood out. Both leaders acknowledged that their competition carries profound implications not only for their nations but for the global community.
With Biden’s presidency nearing its conclusion, the durability of any progress remains uncertain. Sullivan described the meeting as focused on “passing the relationship off on stable terms,” an acknowledgment that the baton will soon be handed to a far less predictable leader.
In Beijing, the tone of official reporting remained cautiously optimistic, emphasizing the importance of stability but warning against actions that might escalate tensions. Whether this cautious optimism endures under Trump’s administration is a question that looms large over global politics.
As Trump prepares to take office, U.S.-China relations are at a crossroads. The Biden-Xi meeting, marked by mutual recognition of shared responsibilities, contrasts starkly with the adversarial posture expected under Trump. The transition will test the resilience of diplomatic frameworks established over the past four years.
For now, Saturday’s achievements on AI and nuclear safety stand as a testament to the potential of diplomacy, even in turbulent times. Whether they serve as a foundation for future cooperation or a final moment of calm before a storm remains to be seen. This unfolding narrative of global power dynamics continues to captivate the world, with APEC offering a fleeting glimpse of what is possible when dialogue prevails over discord.
