Recently elected to the office, United States President Joe Biden ♎in his first talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping expressed concerns over China’s coercivꩲe and unfair economic practices, its crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region.
The phone conversation between the two leaders came hours after the Pentag👍on declared a task force on China. ⭕
This was the first tal💙k between Biden and XI since the former was sworn in as the 46th Presid🌳ent of the United States on January 20. During the phone call, Biden also shared his greetings and well wishes with the Chinese people on the occasion of Lunar New Year.
He affirmed his priorit🦂ies of protecting the American people’s security, prosperity, health, and way of life, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific, the White House said in a readout of the call.
China c꧅laims almost all of the 1.3 million﷽ square-mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory. China has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
“President Biden underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing’s coercive ꧟and unfair economic practices, the crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan,” the White House said.
The militaries of China and India have been engaged in a te😼nse standoff in eastern Ladakh since eaꦛrly May last year.
Biden had earlier said he would not immediately cancel the trade agreem𒀰ent that former president Donald Trump struck with China nor take steps to removᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚe tariffs on Chinese exports.
His administration is planning a sweeping review of the previous Trump administration's posture toward China, including its crackdown on unfair trade practices and antagonis꧟tic military activities in Asia.
China has faced severe criticism fro🌃m Western countries, including the US, over persistent reports of the mass detention of Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang.
Biden administration officials have also condemned China's attacks on pr🍷o𒀰-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
China has ramped up a crackdown i🍸n Hong Kong after imposing a new law against subversion following major protests in the city. The two countries also have differences over Taiwan.
China resents US support for Taiwan, which Beijing views as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland, eve📖n by force.
During the phone call, Biden an♉d Xi also exchanged views on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons pr🧸oliferation.
“Biden is committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people🍸 and those of our allies,” the White House said. Biden’s call with Xi comes after his conversation w🦄ith the leaders of his key allies and friends in the Indo-Pacific: Australia, Japan, India, and South Korea.
Inputs from PTI
