In a historic final meeting before leaving office, President Joe Biden is set to engage with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru. The meeting, which comes just two months before Republican President-elect Donald Trump takes office, is anticipated to focus on urging China to leverage its influence to dissuade North Korea from bolstering its controversial support for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This significant diplomatic effort marks Biden’s last opportunity to address what he has described as a dangerous and destabilizing alliance between North Korea and Russia. Biden, who has long regarded Xi as a critical counterpart on the global stage, aims to leave a lasting imprint on one of the most pressing geopolitical challenges of his presidency.
On Friday, Biden joined South Korean President Yoon Seok Yul and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in strongly condemning North Korea’s recent decision to deploy thousands of troops to aid Moscow in countering Ukrainian forces in the contested Kursk border region. Biden called this collaboration “dangerous and destabilizing,” highlighting its potential to exacerbate tensions in an already fragile global landscape.
Beyond manpower, North Korea has supplied Russia with artillery and munitions, according to intelligence from the United States and South Korea. This support has raised alarms in Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul, especially as Pyongyang continues its aggressive ballistic missile testing. Such tests, timed strategically around the U.S. midterm elections, underline North Korea’s advancements in developing capabilities to strike the U.S. mainland.
A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that Biden, Yoon, and Ishiba spent much of their 50-minute trilateral meeting discussing how to curb Pyongyang’s involvement. They collectively agreed that “it should not be in Beijing’s interest to have this destabilizing cooperation in the region.”
China, as North Korea’s primary trading partner and economic lifeline, remains central to efforts to restrain Pyongyang. However, White House officials have expressed growing frustration with Beijing’s apparent reluctance to rein in Kim Jong Un’s regime. Biden hopes to impress upon Xi the importance of mitigating these destabilizing alliances, urging him to act as a stabilizing force in the region.
Victor Cha, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, emphasized the broader implications of Saturday’s meeting. “When Xi meets with Biden, part of his audience is not solely the White House or the U.S. government,” Cha said. “It’s about American CEOs and continued U.S. investment or trying to renew U.S. investment in China and get rid of the perception that there’s a hostile business environment in China.”
While North Korea is a central topic, Biden and Xi’s discussions are expected to extend into other contentious areas:
- China’s Indirect Support for Russia: The U.S. has accused China of providing material support to Moscow, including selling machine tools, microelectronics, and technology crucial for Russian military production.
- Human Rights Issues: Biden has consistently criticized Beijing’s human rights record, particularly in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, calling for greater accountability.
- Taiwan Tensions: The self-governing democracy remains a flashpoint, with U.S. officials warning of catastrophic consequences if miscalculations lead to war between China and Taiwan.
- Cybersecurity Threats: This week, the FBI revealed details of an expansive Chinese cyberespionage campaign targeting U.S. telecommunications and political systems.
- East and South China Sea Disputes: Regional skirmishes involving the Chinese military and its neighbors, including the Philippines and Japan, underscore rising tensions in Asia.
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba met with Xi on Friday, expressing grave concerns about China’s increasing military activities near the disputed East China Sea islands. “We are extremely concerned about the situation in the East China Sea and escalating activity of the People’s Liberation Army,” Ishiba said following the meeting.
For Biden, this meeting is a culmination of more than five decades in public service. Having cultivated a personal rapport with Xi during their vice-presidential tenures, Biden views their relationship as pivotal in managing the U.S.-China rivalry.
Over the past four years, however, the bilateral relationship has faced significant strains. Incidents such as the Chinese spy balloon shot down over U.S. territory and mounting trade tensions have underscored the challenges. Biden’s administration has also navigated growing concerns about the militarization of technology and the role of Chinese firms in sensitive sectors.
With President-elect Trump set to assume office, the future of U.S.-China relations remains uncertain. Trump campaigned on a platform of aggressive tariffs against Chinese imports and promises to prioritize American manufacturing. Analysts predict that Trump’s administration will face intense challenges in balancing economic competition with Beijing against critical security concerns.
Economic ties between the U.S. and China will likely figure prominently in the discussion. Despite escalating political tensions, China remains a vital trading partner for many American companies. However, firms like Nike and Warby Parker are diversifying their supply chains away from China, a trend that could deepen under Trump’s protectionist policies.
Shoe brand Steve Madden has already announced plans to cut Chinese imports by up to 45% next year. This shift signals a broader reevaluation of China as a manufacturing hub amid concerns over political instability and supply chain vulnerabilities.
Xi, for his part, is expected to use the meeting to reassure U.S. businesses about the viability of operating in China. Beijing hopes to dispel perceptions of a hostile investment environment and maintain critical economic ties with American firms.
As Biden’s administration prepares to hand over power, national security adviser Jake Sullivan has stressed the importance of continuity in managing the U.S.-China rivalry. Sullivan noted that “intense competition with Beijing” will likely be the Trump administration’s most significant foreign policy challenge.
- Taiwan Relations: Escalating Chinese military activity near Taiwan necessitates careful management to avoid missteps that could trigger a broader conflict.
- Regional Stability: Persistent skirmishes in the South and East China Seas highlight the need for robust diplomatic engagement with U.S. allies.
- Technology Decoupling: Navigating the implications of China’s advances in artificial intelligence and 5G technology will remain a priority.
