Undercurrents of Global Tensions: The Biden-Xi Summit Amidst Russia, Trump, and Iran’s Shadow
The recent Biden-Xi summit in San Francisco has unfolded under the dark clouds cast by Russia’s growing influence, the specter of a Trump return, and Iran’s Middle East maneuverings. The world watched as two geopolitical giants met, yet no remarkable agreement was struck, leaving the status quo largely unaltered. This piece delves into the intricate web of global power dynamics that underscored the summit’s discussions and the broader implications for international relations.
The Biden-Xi Summit: A Search for Stability Amidst Rising Powers
One might have expected the Biden-Xi summit to usher in a “G-2” era, a bilateral conclave of might between the United States and China. Instead, a profound realization has settled within the international community: the influential G-2 in today’s world isn’t the US and China but Russia and China. Their burgeoning defense relationship has arguably isolated the United States on the global stage.
In a candid admission on MSNBC News’ militaristically tinged program ‘Morning Joe,’ John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council’s “Strategic Communications,” acknowledged China’s potential utility in dealings with Iran. However, he quickly pointed to the closeness developing between China and Russia, marking a significant shift in the global defense landscape.
A Missed Opportunity for Concrete Progress
Amidst the diplomatic handshake and the staged smiles, tangible advancement at the summit was noticeably absent. The US held fast to semiconductor sanctions and continued arms sales to Taiwan, an island bracing for elections that may reshape its pro-US stance. Conspicuously, President Biden’s labeling of his counterpart Xi as a “dictator” lacked any trace of diplomacy, inviting a swift and stern rebuke from Beijing.
The lack of concrete progress was echoed mournfully by US media, excluding The New York Times, which shed a favorable light on Xi’s engagement with American business leaders. Long-standing applause from US corporate magnates marked the highlight of Xi’s visit, suggesting a complex interdependency between the two countries’ economic interests despite geopolitical tensions.
The Geopolitical Chessboard: Assessing US Retreat
Notable journalistic voices, such as Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times—a known entity within Rothschild banking interests—bitterly note a US withdrawal in the face of Russia’s rise in Europe, China’s ascendancy in Asia, and Iran’s projection in the Middle East. Rachman also contemplates the impact of a potential Trump return on the future of US global leadership.
The APEC’s Diminished Role
The summit coincided with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s (APEC) annual meeting, a once-significant affair that was largely overshadowed. Critiques from the globally influential magazine The Economist highlight the summit’s failure to reassert US trade power in Asia, spotlighting a disappointing turn for proponents of free trade in the region.
Body Language and Overtures
The stark contrast between Xi’s affable demeanor and Biden’s tense posture did not go unnoticed. While military communications between the two superpowers were revived and China conceded to a ban on fentanyl precursors ravaging US youth, little else was concrete.
Financial Times, alongside its coverage of the extended standing ovation from US business leaders, highlighted the undeniable truth that while heavy investment in China by US giants has waned, a mass exodus isn’t on the horizon due to China’s pronounced technological receptiveness.
Global Times: A Chinese Perspective on Strategic Relations
The Global Times, an unofficial arm of the Chinese Communist Party, labeled the summit as “strategic, historic, and directional.” Despite the absence of immediate achievements or significant improvement in relations, the message was one of sustained tension and the prevention of further deterioration. It quoted expert Lü Xiang, who remarked on America’s acute concern regarding the crises in Ukraine and Gaza, and its desperate search for Chinese mediation.
A Temporary Respite as US Elections Loom
Whether or not any progress made will outlast the summit remains uncertain, especially as the 2024 US Presidential election looms. The outcome will ultimately determine the true lasting significance of this global meeting, deemed by many as merely a pause in a series of unfolding global events.