Biden Brings Up China’s Human Rights Abuses, ‘Unfair’ Economic Practices In First Call With Xi Jinping

Topline

President Joe Biden confronted Chinese President Xi Jinping about China’s “unfair” economic practices and its actions in Hong Kong and Xinjiang in the first official phone call between the two world leaders since Biden took office, as the new U.S. president attempts to get the ball rolling on his China policy where he plans to confront Beijing on various issues, by leveraging support from allies in Europe and Asia.

Key Facts

Key Background

In an interview with CBS earlier this week, Biden said that his administration was ready for “extreme competition” with China, but he vowed to take a different approach compared to Trump and rely on existing international rules. “We need not have a conflict but there is going to be extreme competition,” Biden said. Biden said he knew Xi pretty well due to his interactions with him while serving as Vice President in the Obama administration and added “he doesn’t have a democratic…bone in his body.” Tensions between Washington and Beijing had significantly ramped up in the past year under former President Trump who openly blamed China for the Covid-19 pandemic which has killed more than 470,000 Americans. Tensions between two countries have been further ratcheted up by China’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong and its provocative actions toward Taiwan. In the past week, U.S. Navy warships have traversed the South China Sea, conducting joint exercises and so-called “freedom of navigation operations,” angering Beijing.

Further Reading

Biden confronts China’s Xi in first call (Politico)

Two U.S. Navy Carrier Groups Conduct Joint Exercises In Disputed South China Sea (Forbes)