President Joe Biden of the United States issued a stern warning to Chinese President Xi Jinping concerning various critical issues spanning military, trade, and regional stability.

• President Biden issued warnings to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding military activities in the Pacific, China’s support for Russia’s defense industry, and its influence in the Middle East.

• Concerns were raised about China’s behavior in the South China Sea and its impact on regional stability, particularly in exacerbating tensions with allies like the Philippines.

• Both leaders agreed to maintain communication and pursue diplomatic engagement, with Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen’s upcoming trip to China serving as a significant step in stabilizing relations amidst rising political tensions.

The discussions, characterized as “constructive” by White House national security communications advisor John Kirby, focused prominently on military communications, particularly in the aftermath of the January election of Taiwan’s president-elect, William Lai.

A senior White House official highlighted concerns regarding China’s behavior in the Pacific region, including incidents of unsafe actions around Second Thomas Shoal and engagements with regional allies like Japan and Australia.

The official emphasized that while there had been a reduction in some risky incidents since November, there was still unease about China’s treatment of its neighbors.

President Biden expressed worries about China’s actions in the South China Sea, citing recent dangerous encounters involving the Chinese coast guard and routine Philippine maritime operations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping leaves at the end of the joint press conference for the China-Central Asia Summit in Xian, Shaanxi province, China May 19, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Pool

Exacerbating tensions

The potential ramifications of China’s behavior were highlighted, particularly in exacerbating tensions with Philippine partners.

Furthermore, discussions touched upon China’s support for Russia’s defense industry and its implications for European and transatlantic security.

Concerns were also raised regarding China’s influence in the Middle East, with emphasis placed on leveraging China’s position to address issues like Houthi attacks on civilian ships in the Red Sea.

Both leaders agreed to maintain open lines of communication and pursue diplomatic engagement at the cabinet level.

Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen’s upcoming trip to China was highlighted as a significant step in fostering dialogue and stabilizing relations between the two economic powerhouses amidst rising political tensions.