Joe Biden and Xi Jinping have come face-to-face in Bali, Indonesia on the sidelines of the G20 Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping has made his second international trip since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The virus has killed over 5,000 people in China, and 6.6 million around the world.

Beijing maintains a Covid-zero strategy, which has been criticised by Human Rights Watch as “draconian”.

But for one of the world’s biggest superpowers, the so-called ‘democracy versus authoritarianism’ narrative is one Beijing is attempting to stamp out.

This was President Xi’s first face-to-face meeting since his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden took office nearly two years ago.

As Xi touched down in Bali, Indonesia for the G20 Summit, a range of bilateral talks had already been arranged.

His meeting with President Biden was high on the agenda, and signals a dialogue, which the U.S. was denied with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after he withdrew his personal invitation to the event.

Instead, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in attendance.

At China-U.S. meeting, which is understood to have lasted three-and-a-half hours, there was no secret about the ongoing rivalry between the two states.

“We need to find the right direction for the bilateral relationship going forward and elevate the relationship,” Biden said.

Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry said “President Xi pointed out that the world is at a major inflection point in history.”

President Biden sought to rally G20 nations to condemn the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Xi said he was “highly concerned” by the ongoing conflict, while Biden described the war as “brutal” and “irresponsible”.

A major point for international relations

Twenty of the world’s largest economies have gathered in Bali to exchange their shared challenges: inflation, supply chain pressures, and post-pandemic recovery.

It also provides the space for countries to hold face-to-face meetings on the sidelines of the event.

For example, Australia has shared a defence and security partnership with the U.S. for over 70 years.

In addition, Canberra’s era of economic engagement with Beijing was crucial during the height of the Global Financial Crisis.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will also come face-to-face with his Chinese counterpart during bilateral talks in Bali.

Meanwhile, his Minister of Defence Richard Marles was speaking in Sydney as President Xi held closed-door talks with Biden.

“Australia values a productive relationship with China. And we expect China will play a more prominent role consistent with its economic and strategic weight,” Marles told delegates at the Sydney Institute Annual Dinner on Monday night.

Marles described Australia’s approach to the Indo-Pacific region as “sober, responsible, and clear-eyed statecraft”.

The ANZUS Alliance—between Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.—has been the cornerstone of Canberra’s defence policy.

Today, the alliance provides technology, and intelligence advantages, which Australia would be challenged to develop on its own.

“That enhances Australia’s sovereignty. It does not diminish it,” Marles said.

However, China’s increased dominance in the region has raised eyebrows between likeminded allies like the U.S. and Australia.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said competition can exist, and Washington should not seek to out=perform Beijing.

“China-U.S. relations should not be a zero-sum game where one side out-competes or thrives at the expense of the other,” the ministry said.

Why does this matter?

Biden and Xi made it clear they want to avoid any conflict, for now.

The White House readout from the meeting noted Biden raised “objections to the PRC’s coercive and increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan”.

The language was clear: the ongoing tensions “undermine peace and stability” and “jeopardise global prosperity”.

President Biden also raised concerns around human rights abuses and non-market economic practices in relation to U.S. workers.

But President Xi reminded his U.S. counterpart about the global clash between democracies and autocracies, and concerns about Beijing being misunderstood through this lens.

“Instead of talking in one way and acting in another, the United States needs to honour its commitments with concrete action,” China’s Foreign Ministry said.

Washington’s foreign policy changed dramatically since President Richard Nixon’s initial engagement with Beijing.

Since then, China has developed the world’s largest navy, and has entered into the big league of world powers.

The question remains: will tensions reach boiling point?