India is of the view that the Biden-Xi meeting is unlikely to “iron out the differences between Washington and Beijing” over Taiwan. Like other countries, New Delhi was also keeping a close watch over this much-publicised meeting between Biden and Jinping.
Analysing what transpired between the two leaders in Bali, Indian diplomats told The Daily Guardian that New Delhi does not expect much from this interaction as far as diffusing tension over the Taiwan issue is concerned, as China’s Taiwan policy would continue to be as aggressive as it has been so far.
“The meeting was nothing beyond the attempt to keep the communication channel open between Biden and Jinping, but that is of no use in terms of achieving objective to diffuse tension and mend ties between the two top world economies,” says a diplomat, adding, “The world might have expected that this meeting would help Biden and Xi find ways to work in proper coordination to improve bilateral ties, but nothing like that has actually happened.”
The international community is aware that the US and China have strained bilateral relations that worsened due to Beijing’s recent posturing over Taiwan, which included actual display of military power. In fact, relations between the two countries took a nosedive after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August. China saw it as a provocative US move in support of the island which governs itself, but which Beijing says must return to it someday. After the Pelosi visit, China held a series of military exercises around Taiwan to make its position clear. What is also remarkable is that Biden had then indicated that the US would come to Taiwan’s aid if China invaded it, leading to tension between Washington and Beijing.
In this background, the question being asked in South Block is whether Beijing from now onwards would remain a silent spectator to someone from the US or any other western countries visiting Taiwan or making statements from there, sources said.
During Monday’s talks, when Biden said “we need to chart the right course for the US China bilateral relationship, Xi remained non-committal. The only statement that the Chinese President made was that he was ready to have a “candid and in-depth” exchange of views with Biden on issues of strategic importance on China-US relations and on major global and regional issues.”
A diplomat told TDG, “Xi only assured that he would hold further talks and dialogues on the strategic issues. He did not go beyond it.” “The world expects that China and the United States will properly handle the relationship. Our meeting has attracted the world’s attention, so we need to work with all countries to bring more hope to world peace, greater confidence to global stability and strong impetus to common development.”
These comments from Xi are also being seen as a message to Biden, as the Chinese leader underlined the need for joint global efforts towards world peace and global stability, say sources.
