President Joe Biden objected to China’s “coercive and increasingly aggressive actions” toward Taiwan and raised human rights concerns about Beijing’s conduct in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong during his first in-person meeting on Monday with President Xi Jinping, the White House said.
The meeting, in the midst of Biden’s seven-day, round-the-world trip, came as the superpowers aimed to “manage” differences between them as they compete for global influence amid increasing economic and security tensions. Speaking at a news conference after concluding the nearly three hour sit-down, Biden said that when it comes to China the U.S. would “compete vigorously, but I’m not looking for conflict,” adding that, “I absolutely believe there need not be a new Cold War” with the rising Asian nation.
Biden reiterated U.S. support for its longstanding “One China” policy, which recognizes the government in Beijing while allowing for informal relations and defense ties with Taipei, and its posture of
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