Matt Johnson
Chinese President Xi Jinping refused to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden during a phone conversation last week. This is reported by The Financial Times, citing five sources with knowledge of the content of the conversation. Biden himself, after the publication, denied his Chinese counterpart's refusal to meet in person.
"That's not true," Biden said when asked if he was disappointed that Xi Jinping did not want to meet with him, Reuters reported. Biden spoke with the Chinese leader for about 90 minutes. He suggested that the two heads of state hold a summit in an attempt to break the impasse between the U.S. and China, but could not get him to agree. Several people briefed on the call said the Chinese leader did not accept the offer and instead insisted that Washington adopt a less harsh tone toward Beijing.
Biden was harshly critical of Beijing's treatment of the Uighurs in Xinjiang, its suppression of the democracy movement in Hong Kong, and its military activity around Taiwan. Beijing responded by accusing the Biden administration of interfering with China's strategic interests. A sixth interlocutor familiar with the situation told the FT that Biden presented the summit as one of several opportunities for follow-up interaction and did not expect immediate rejection.
source: reuters.com
"That's not true," Biden said when asked if he was disappointed that Xi Jinping did not want to meet with him, Reuters reported. Biden spoke with the Chinese leader for about 90 minutes. He suggested that the two heads of state hold a summit in an attempt to break the impasse between the U.S. and China, but could not get him to agree. Several people briefed on the call said the Chinese leader did not accept the offer and instead insisted that Washington adopt a less harsh tone toward Beijing.
Biden was harshly critical of Beijing's treatment of the Uighurs in Xinjiang, its suppression of the democracy movement in Hong Kong, and its military activity around Taiwan. Beijing responded by accusing the Biden administration of interfering with China's strategic interests. A sixth interlocutor familiar with the situation told the FT that Biden presented the summit as one of several opportunities for follow-up interaction and did not expect immediate rejection.
source: reuters.com
