Climate negotiations are in disarray as COP27 enters its second week
New ScientistMAR 9 2023
The Facts
For the first time since taking office, US Pres. Joe Biden met with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for sideline talks during the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, on Monday.
While the pair had met several times before Biden became president, this meeting comes at a time of fraught relations between the countries — namely over China's alleged support of Russia's war in Ukraine, Taiwan, and technology and trade issues.
Talks indicate a reopening of communication lines between Beijing and Washington that had been interrupted since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August, which the PRC responded to with military drills and by suspending cooperation with America.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
While US-China relations are far from mended, this is a first and significant step in the right direction. The meeting was about building a floor with China so that relations can improve and progress on critical issues can be made going forward.
Republican narrative
This meeting was another shameful public appearance by Biden on his latest tour overseas. After apologizing for the US leaving the Paris Agreement under Trump and mistakenly calling Cambodia Colombia, he showed weakness and desperation in his meeting with Xi, failing to hold Beijing accountable for any of its aggression.