Biden speaks on phone with Xi: expresses concern about China's support for Russia and China's "unfair" trade policy

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping had their first phone conversation since November. During these talks, Biden expressed concern to Xi about China's support for Russia's war against Ukraine and China's "unfair" trade policy. This is stated in the White House press release on the fact of the conversation, UNN reports.

He expressed concern about China's support for Russia's defense industrial base and its impact on European and transatlantic security, and emphasized the United States' unwavering commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Details

According to a statement from the White House, US President Joe Biden spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday to express concern about what Washington called China's "unfair trade policies and non-market economic practices." He also suggested ways to manage competition to avoid conflicts and maintain open communications between the two countries.

President Biden also expressed continued concern about China's unfair trade policies and non-market economic practices that harm American workers and families. The President emphasized that the United States will continue to take the necessary steps to prevent the use of advanced U.S. technologies to undermine our national security, without unreasonably restricting trade and investment.

Biden also used the call to reaffirm U.S. support for Beijing's "One China Policy" and to reiterate the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, where the Taiwanese president is to be inaugurated in May.

The two leaders welcomed the ongoing efforts to maintain open channels of communication and responsible management of the relationship through high-level diplomacy and working-level consultations in the weeks and months ahead, including during the upcoming visits of Secretary Yellen and Secretary Blinken.

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In November, Biden and Xi agreed to restore military ties and cooperate to limit fentanyl production. They have not spoken on the phone since July 2022. After the meeting in November, Biden told reporters that he had not changed his mind about Xi being a dictator. This comment angered China.

In addition, the Biden administration has imposed a ban on the sale of certain technologies to Chinese companies, citing national security risks. China, in turn, accused Washington of weaponizing economic and trade issues.

Concerns about Taiwan

China considers Taiwan, a self-governing island with democratic elections, part of its territory and recently dropped the "peaceful reunification" language from its budget. Taiwan strongly objects to China's claims to sovereignty and says that only the island's residents can decide their future.

Taiwan's current vice president, Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing considers a separatist, became president in January, and Beijing increased pressure on Taiwan before the inauguration in May.