US and China agree to resume military talks. Conclusions from the Biden-Xi summit

BEIJING – US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to resume high-level military communications, according to both countries.

The two leaders met in person for the first time in a year on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco on Wednesday local time.

“We have returned to direct, open, clear communication,” Biden said at a news conference after the talks.

China has held military exercises around Taiwan, while its navy has been engaged in offensive maneuvers in the South China Sea in a standoff with the Philippines as both countries stake their territorial claims.

The US wants to revive military communications, especially after some incidents where Chinese ships almost collided with the US military.

“Significant miscalculations on both sides could lead to real trouble with a country like China or any other major country,” Biden said at a press briefing after the meeting.

China’s Defense Ministry declined a call with its US counterpart following the discovery of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over US airspace in early February. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s much-awaited visit to China was delayed by more than four months due to the balloon incident.

In June, the defense chiefs of both countries attended an annual security summit in Singapore, but did not meet formally.

When Blinken eventually visited China, he said he had “repeatedly” raised the need for direct communications between the two countries’ militaries but failed to revive such talks.

China has yet to name a defense minister after dismissing General Li Shangfu without explanation in late October.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet his Chinese counterpart when the Chinese defense chief is selected, a senior Biden administration official told reporters after the Biden-Xi summit.

As part of the agreement, senior US military commanders, including Pacific forces in Hawaii, will hold talks with their Chinese counterparts, the official said.

The official said the two countries also plan to establish ways for shipowners and others to discuss incidents and possible best practices.

A readout published by Chinese state media said the resumption of such military talks was “on the basis of equality and respect”, according to a CNBC translation.

At the press conference, Biden reiterated the US position that Taiwan maintains its sovereignty despite China’s claims to the contrary.

He said, “We stand by the agreement that there is a one-China policy and I am not going to change it, it is not going to change. This is about the border that we discussed.”

According to Chinese state media, Xi pointed out during the bilateral meeting that Taiwan has always been the “most important and sensitive” issue in China’s relations with the US. He said in the report that China “takes seriously” the positive statements made by the US during their meeting with Biden in Indonesia last year.

“The US should take concrete actions to reflect its stance of not supporting ‘Taiwan independence’, stop arming Taiwan and support China’s peaceful reunification,” state media reported. “China will eventually and inevitably be reunited.”

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, with no right to independently conduct diplomatic relations. The US recognizes Beijing as the sole government of China but maintains informal relations with the democratically self-ruled island of Taiwan.

Chinese state media also said the two sides agreed to establish an intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence, set up a working group on drug control, “significantly” increase flights between the two countries next year, and expand cooperation in education, trade and Agreed to expand exchanges in areas such as culture. ,

A senior US administration official said the Chinese are already taking action against about 24 companies that make precursors Fentanyl – a drug that has caused overdoses and deaths in the US

Biden said at a news conference after the meeting that the two leaders agreed that fentanyl production needed to be “significantly curbed.”

However, on artificial intelligence, the official said it would be too early for a joint announcement by the two leaders, and noted the need to prevent misuse of AI in military or nuclear operations.

The Biden administration has announced export controls and sanctions on Chinese companies in an effort to limit US companies’ contributions to technology supporting China’s military.

Chinese state media said Xi addressed export controls, investment reviews and sanctions at the meeting and called on the US to lift sanctions and provide a non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies.

The senior US administration official said Biden also raised concerns about travel harassment of Americans in China and a business environment that is not as welcoming as before.

But overall the official described this meeting as more personal than the last time the two leaders met.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Biden called the day of his meetings with Xi “something The most constructive and productive discussions We had.”

“We have built on the past several months of diplomacy between our countries and made significant progress.”

— CNBC’s Christina Wilkie and Clement Tan contributed to this report.