Xi Jinping's Call｜Indonesia's G20 Becomes G2, Ten Views on the Sino-US President's Talks

First, this is a very important meeting. It is the first meeting between the two countries after the end of the important domestic political agenda. It is also the first face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state since Biden took office. The highest-level talks held in the context of increasingly turbulent international conflicts.

The talks will help stabilize bilateral relations and the regional and international situation, help manage conflicts and differences, and prevent confrontation and conflict. As the two most important countries in the world, China and the United States are the structural axis of current international relations and the main contradiction. Sitting together and talking is itself a positive signal worthy of recognition.

Second, the talks lasted more than three hours, and the content of the talks was very rich, including various aspects related to the relationship between the two countries, as well as the international hotspot of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Although the draft said at the beginning that the atmosphere of the meeting was "frank and in-depth", there was also a sentence of "constructive" at the end of the draft, and these expressions were very important.

Many people are a little scared when they see "candid and in-depth", thinking that it is "chicken and duck talking". In fact, it is not easy for both parties to achieve this, but it is also very meaningful.

The contradictions and conflicts between China and the United States are so serious. The two sides have fought and confronted hot issues such as containment and anti-containment, sanctions and anti-sanctions, decoupling and anti-decoupling, and Taiwan independence and anti-Taiwan independence for so many years. Clearly, even if the problem cannot be solved, you can still have a judgment on the bottom line of each other's attitudes. This is the first step in establishing a "safety net" and "protective fence" for bilateral relations, and it must be a "honest and in-depth" process.

Chinese President Xi Jinping.

(AP)

Third, both sides released "goodwill", or made a strategic disclosure.

China stated that "China has never sought to change the existing international order, does not interfere in the internal affairs of the United States, and has no intention of challenging and replacing the United States." The ally relationship is against China, does not support "Taiwan independence", does not support "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan", and has no intention of conflict with China.

The US also has no intention of seeking "decoupling" from China, obstructing China's economic development, or enclosing China.

"Of course, as for whether there is strategic mutual trust, that's another matter. Everyone knows exactly what it is.

The scene where Xi and Bai met in person for the first time as heads of state.

(AP)

Fourth, the page of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan has been turned.

Please pay attention to this passage in the draft, "The two heads of state agree that the diplomatic teams of the two sides will maintain strategic communication and carry out regular consultations. They agree that the financial teams of the two countries will conduct dialogue and coordination on macroeconomic policy, economic and trade issues. Agree to work together Promote the success of the twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The two sides reached an agreement on conducting dialogue and cooperation on public health, agriculture and food security between the two countries. Agreed to make good use of the Sino-US joint working group to promote more specific solutions Questions. Agree that Sino-U.S. people-to-people and cultural exchanges are very important, and encourage the expansion of personnel exchanges in various fields between the two countries.” These are all exchange or negotiation projects that were stopped after Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. After this meeting, they were resumed with the consent of the two heads of state. , I think this reflects the sincerity of the Chinese side and can be regarded as one of the outcomes of the talks.

Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, visited Taiwan, pushing Sino-U.S. and cross-strait relations into a very dangerous situation.

(AP)

Fifth, however, please be aware that the risk of the Taiwan issue has not been resolved, but has been further increased.

Everyone must pay attention to China’s statement on the Taiwan issue, “The Taiwan issue is the core of China’s core interests, the foundation of the political foundation of Sino-US relations, and the first insurmountable red line in Sino-US relations. Solving the Taiwan issue is the The Chinese people's own affairs are China's internal affairs. It is the common wish of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation to safeguard the unity and territorial integrity of the motherland. Anyone who wants to separate Taiwan from China is against China's national justice, and the Chinese people will never We will agree! We hope to see and remain committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, but "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We hope that the US will match its words with deeds and abide by the one-China policy and the three Sino-US joint communiqués." These words carry weight. And its hidden subtext, as long as you pay attention to the Taiwan issue, I believe you can feel it.

Sixth, there is still the Taiwan issue. According to the Chinese press release, Biden said that the United States "does not support 'Taiwan independence', nor does it support 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan'. "Do not support Taiwan independence."

However, this statement has not been seen in the White House briefing to reporters, and the second, and most critical, can Biden guarantee that these promises will be implemented?

We cannot help but be skeptical.

Biden is a weak president, and he can't even suppress the party leaders in the Democratic Party, let alone how much he can do after losing the House of Representatives.

In particular, if Kevin McCarthy of the Republican Party successfully becomes the speaker of the House of Representatives, in order to contain China, electoral considerations, and domestic public opinion, the two parties will continue to improve their relations with Taiwan out of the competition mechanism.

Pelosi, who belongs to the same Democratic Party as Biden, can visit Taiwan. Will McCarthy, a Republican, visit Taiwan?

What if he, Tsai Ing-wen, and Lai Qingde decide to "jump over the guardrail" together and pierce the safety net of Sino-US relations?

What to do if this happens?

What's more, the "Taiwan Policy Act" will be promulgated soon, and Taiwan and the United States will hold general elections. The China-US and Taiwan issues must be issues that the United States and Taiwan will manipulate. Therefore, the risk of China-US and cross-strait relations will not only not If it disappears, it will become more and more tense and dangerous.

The U.S. House of Representatives has completed a power shift, with Republican Kevin McCarthy replacing Pelosi as speaker.

(Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times

Seventh, it is very interesting that the Chinese side said, "The vast earth can fully accommodate the respective development and common prosperity of China and the United States." This is a statement that was also made in the last telephone conversation between the two sides, and it is emphasized again this time.

Ten years ago, the saying was that "the vast Pacific Ocean is big enough to accommodate China and the United States."

From the "broad Pacific Ocean" to the "broad Earth", the competition between the two countries has obviously surpassed the Asia-Pacific and started to compete on a global scale.

Eighth, regarding freedom, democracy, and human rights, I noticed a passage in particular: "Freedom, democracy, and human rights are the common pursuit of mankind and the consistent pursuit of the Chinese Communist Party. The United States has American-style democracy, and China has Chinese-style democracy. Their respective national conditions. The whole process of people's democracy in China is based on China's national conditions, history and culture, and reflects the will of the people. We are also proud. The democratic system of any country cannot be perfect, and it needs to be constantly developed and improved. The specific differences between the two sides , can be discussed, the premise is equal exchange. The so-called "democracy against authoritarianism" is not a characteristic of today's world, let alone conform to the trend of the times.

This is a very interesting statement, and it may also be an area where China and the United States will confront fiercely and establish mutual adaptation.

Ninth, regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, China's principled statement shows that China is obviously unwilling to get involved too much.

This is a matter between Russia and Ukraine and the West. China will stand on the side of peace, "continue to promote peace talks, and support and look forward to the resumption of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine." As for the final outcome, that is none of our business.

Tenth, the landscape of international power is now clearer. Although there is no name of G2, the reality of G2 has been formed.

The G20 Xi visit is the beginning of a truly constructive negotiation between China and the United States