Biden, Xi agreed to resume military communication, jointly combat fentanyl

Biden, Xi agreed to resume military communication, jointly combat fentanyl

2023-11-16

U.S. President Joe Biden met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for four hours on Thursday, Taiwan time. In a rare solo press conference afterward, Biden said he and Xi agreed to resume military exchanges. They also agreed to work together to fight illegal production of the opioid fentanyl. Biden said that during the talks, he stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, while reaffirming Washington’s commitment to the “one China” policy.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping shook hands at their first meeting in a year. After posing for photos on the front steps, they went inside for a closed-door meeting. Biden set the tone at the outset.

Joe Biden
US president
Mr. President, we’ve known each other for a long time. We haven’t always agreed, which has not surprised anyone. But our meetings have always been candid, straightforward, and useful.

Xi Jinping (voice of interpreter)
Chinese president
For two large countries like China and the United States, turning their back on each other is not an option.

They spent four hours together, in meetings, a working lunch, and a stroll in the gardens. Biden pointed something out in the trees as the two leaders walked without interpreters at their side.

Afterward, Biden held a solo press conference, where he presented progress on U.S objectives with China.

Joe Biden
US president
I raised areas where the United States has concerns about the PRC’s actions, including detained and ex-—and exit-banned U.S. citizens, human rights, and corrective—coercive activities in the South China Sea.

Besides raising issues pertaining to the South China Sea, Biden reiterated the significance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Joe Biden
US president
We maintain an agreement that there is a “one China” policy and that—and I’m not going to change that. I also stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.

The two sides agreed to work together on curbing illegal fentanyl production. They also agreed to reopen military communication.

Joe Biden
US president
We are reassuming military-to-military contact—direct contacts. As a lot of you press know who follow this, that’s been cut off, and it’s been worri—worrisome. That’s how accidents happen.

The two leaders also discussed major global crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war and conflict in Gaza. Biden stressed the need for “rational” management of the U.S.-China competitive relationship.

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