For three hours of interposed screens, Monday, the American president and the number one Chinese have spoken at length by evoking Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Uighurs.
by and
“My old friend. When Chinese president uses such a courteous expression with respect to his American counterpart, one seizes an intention, more than attention. In the preamble – destined for the cameras – their long exchange, Monday, November 15 in Washington, Tuesday 16 in Beijing, Xi Jinping and Joe Biden wanted, failing to get closer, display their pragmatism and weighting.
Organize the rules of competition between their countries and avoid open confrontation that would benefit anyone: it was the goal of this video interview by nearly three and a half hours. On both sides, in recent weeks, clear signals had been sent in this direction, despite ads for punctual fever on Taiwan. But the formal message should not hide deep divergences on the bottom, tension topics and exacerbated competition fields.
Two rooms faced, with very different scenery. In Washington, Joe Biden had taken place in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, at the end of a table where his nearest collaborators were also installed for foreign policy, including the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan.
Xi Jinping, for his part, spoke in a huge piece of the People’s Palace, in Beijing, in front of a film screen where his counterpart appeared. It was surrounded by three diplomats and by Liu HE, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic issues. According to a senior head of the White House, the video conversation was much more dynamic than just a phone call. The two leaders did not stick to the planned script, made trips, arrested by quoting each other.
Gigantic ships
Claimant from the outset “mutual respect” between the two great powers, the Chinese leader wanted more “communication and cooperation”. He compared the two countries to gigantic ships, in the open sea, smashing the waves and seeking to keep their cap and speed. Xi Jinping has launched a warning about Taiwan’s instrumentalisation to contain the ambitions of China: “Whoever plays with fire will be burned.” For Xi Jinping, “China is patient and good faith and will make every effort To achieve peaceful reunification, but if Taiwanese independence provoke and cross the red line, we will have to take steps decisively. ” Joe Biden has repeated the key points of American politics vis-à-vis China: no official recognition of Taiwan; No desire for domestic destabilization against the Chinese regime.
You have 58.97% of this article to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.