Xi Jinping's meeting with Joe Biden yielded no major breakthroughs. But China has already claimed victory

US-China relations, which got here to a close to complete breakdown through the ultimate yr of President Donald Trump's time period, had descended into open hostility throughout more moderen high-level bilateral conferences -- together with March's now notorious Alaska Summit, throughout which diplomats from either side traded barbs.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views "reunification" with Taiwan -- a self-ruling democracy it has by no means ruled -- as a key unresolved subject on China's path towards its "great rejuvenation."That a US President would probably agree with China's view on this subject is subsequently a giant propaganda win. But based on a readout of the meeting from the White House, that is not fairly what Biden stated -- actually the US readout did not point out independence in any respect."On Taiwan, President Biden underscored that the United States remains committed to the 'one China' policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances, and that the United States strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," the White House stated.In what is called the US "one China" coverage, Washington acknowledges Beijing's place that Taiwan is a part of China, however has by no means endorsed the CCP's declare of sovereignty over Taiwan. It maintains shut unofficial ties with Taipei, and is obligated to assist the island with the means to defend itself below the Taiwan Relations Act.An in depth 3,900-character readout launched by China's Foreign Ministry once more cited Biden as saying the US doesn't assist Taiwan independence, however it didn't point out Washington's sturdy stance towards "unilateral efforts to change the status quo." Instead, it confirmed Xi taking a direct swipe -- and making a veiled risk -- at Washington.According to the Chinese readout, Xi blamed rising tensions throughout the Taiwan Strait on what he known as Taipei's try and "rely on the US to seek independence," in addition to "the intention of some Americans to use Taiwan to contain China.""Such moves are extremely dangerous, just like playing with fire. Whoever plays with fire will get burnt," Xi informed Biden, based on the Chinese readout."We have patience and will strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with utmost sincerity and efforts. However, if the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces provoke, compel or even cross the red line, we will have to take drastic measures," Xi added.Such sturdy rhetoric is prone to resonate with China's home viewers, lots of whom staunchly assist unification with Taiwan. Xi additional cemented his energy at a key Communist Party meeting final week, paving the best way to safe a 3rd time period and past in workplace. And now, he's portrayed domestically as having emerged triumphantly from the meeting with Biden, too. "Of course, in China, they have to claim victory. That's why they emphasized that the Biden administration has reiterated its opposition to Taiwan independence," stated Jean-Pierre Cabestan, an knowledgeable on Chinese politics at Hong Kong Baptist University. For Beijing, the optics of the meeting is a minimum of as vital as its content material.In the Chinese capital, the digital summit was held in a gold-painted, red-carpeted corridor within the Great Hall of the People. Xi and Biden's faces appeared aspect by aspect on an enormous display livestreaming the meeting, whereas Chinese leaders, together with Xi himself, sat meters away in a row on the opposite aspect of the room -- a markedly completely different setup from what US officers had within the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

According to the Chinese readout, Xi likened China and the US to 2 big ships at sea, every needing to be steered steadily to keep away from collision. "In a sense, it gives China a lot of face, a lot of status -- great power status. Biden has accepted to talk to China on an equal footing, mentioning the key issues both countries need to tackle together, from climate change, North Korea to Afghanistan," Cabestan stated.And for Xi, constructing bridges with Biden and making an attempt to carry bilateral relations on a more regular monitor helps his home political agenda too.

"So this (will be) an important year and President Xi I think, will largely be focused on removing those risks and those uncertainties in the US-China relationship so that he can really focus on the domestic politics in preparing for the Party Congress," Haenle stated.

Ryan Hass, a senior fellow on the Brookings Institution, stated home components will doubtless play an outsized position for each leaders within the coming yr."Neither leader will want to be seen as softening his approach toward the other, but at the same time, neither leader will see profit in allowing the relationship to escalate significantly beyond current levels of tension," he stated."As such, the relationship likely will navigate between a pretty firm floor and ceiling over the coming year."