Joe Biden and Li Keqiang break US-China diplomatic ice at East Asia Summit
- Two leaders attend discussion in Phnom Penh ahead of expected Xi Jinping-Biden talks at G20
- White House says US leader underlines need for access to East China and South China seas
The two were in a discussion at the East Asia Summit, a forum held among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) states and the group’s dialogue partners.
Although they are not known to have exchange words directly, the closed-door encounter is the first between Biden and any senior Chinese leader in two years and comes as tensions between the world’s two largest economies are at their worst in decades.
The White House said Biden spoke about a range of issues, including the need to respect freedom of navigation and overflight in the East China and South China seas.
Biden also highlighted that the US would “compete vigorously” with China and speak out against its human rights abuses while also keeping communication open and ensuring “competition does not veer into conflict”.
“He reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the White House said.
In remarks before the closed-door discussions began, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said he hoped leaders could come together to address “existential and strategic challenges” facing the world.
“Many current challenges and tensions have been hindering our … efforts to promote sustainable development and causing greater hardship to people’s lives,” he said.
“This calls for our unity in supporting the common interest to build a brighter future for [the] next generation.”
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Also present at the summit on Sunday were leaders from Australia, Japan and South Korea.
As the US and China vie for influence in the region, both Biden and Li have sought to ratchet up ties with Southeast Asian countries.
In his meeting with Hun Sen, Biden also expressed concern over possible activities by China’s military at a Cambodian naval base, a claim denied by both Cambodia and China.
Li, meanwhile, said China would treat Asean “as a high priority in our neighbourhood diplomacy”.
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Tensions between the two countries have intensified in recent months over Washington’s support for Taiwan, allegations of human rights violations, and export controls on microchips that could hurt China’s technology industry.
Biden is scheduled to travel to the Indonesian island of Bali on Monday, where he will meet Xi ahead of the two-day Group of 20 summit.
The American leader is expected to talk about red lines while airing concerns over North Korea’s recent missile provocations, according to Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
It will be the first in-person meeting between the two top leaders since Biden became president in 2021.
Analysts have suggested that while no major outcomes are expected from their first face-to-face sit-down, the meeting will allow each sides to better understand the other’s priorities and intentions and reduce misunderstandings.
