Biden and Xi Talk, Confirming, Competition Yes, Conflict No

Sept. 10, 2021 (EIRNS)—President Biden called Chinese President Xi Jinping on the phone Sept. 9/Sept. 10 and the two heads of state had a “candid” conversation which had a few remarkable aspects, so that speaking about a policy shift might be no overstatement.

On the phone call we have the usual two versions: a short one by the White House and a longer one by Foreign Ministry. Both statements say that the two leaders recognized that the U.S.-China relationship committed to ensure that “competition does not veer into conflict.” The Foreign Ministry statement, more outspoken, says: “China and the United States are respectively the biggest developing country and the biggest developed country. Whether they can handle their relationship well bears on the future of the world. It is a question of the century to which the two countries must provide a good answer. ... The two countries should look ahead and press forward, demonstrate strategic courage and political resolve, and bring China-U.S. relations back to the right track of stable development as soon as possible for the good of the people in both countries and around the world. “

The statement also said, “The U.S. side has no intention to change the one-China policy.”

The Chinese report had its sharp side as well, which was also repeated by Global Times: “Xi Jinping pointed out that for some time, due to the U.S. policy on China, the China-U.S. relationship has run into serious difficulty. This serves neither the fundamental interests of the people of the two countries, nor the common interests of countries around the world.”