TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US President Joe Biden will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) for their final meeting on Saturday (Nov. 16) before a new administration under Donald Trump.
According to Biden officials, the two leaders will meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru. Discussions are expected to cover previous topics such as Taiwan, the South China Sea, Russia, Chinese cyber hacking, and curbing fentanyl, per Reuters.
Beijing must prepare for new policy approaches under the incoming Trump administration. It has already opposed Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Chinese goods.
Beijing also opposed moves under the Biden administration, which increased tariffs on Chinese imports. In addition, Biden restricted US investment in AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors in China, set to take effect in January when Trump takes office.
The Biden administration’s approach has taken strong measures to limit Chinese technology and bolster alliances in Asia. "The president has demonstrated that the US and (China) can manage our differences and prevent competition from veering into conflict or confrontation, and he's done that by ensuring the maintenance of open lines of communication," said US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Trump's cabinet nominations have included hawkish members who may take a harder stance against Beijing, such as Representative Mike Waltz for national security adviser and Senator Marco Rubio for secretary of state.
