Biden stresses 'enduring' US commitment to Korean Peninsula denuclearization to Xi: White House
Korea HeraldMAR 2024
Biden and Xi Hold First Conversation in Months
Image copyright: Alex Wong/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images (Nov. 15, 2021)
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Pres. Biden made good use of his conversation with Xi as he raised several concerns over worrying international developments and defended the US. His administration is currently doing all it can to ensure peaceful and stable relations with Beijing — and even push for limited cooperation — as competition between the two powers increases.
Republican narrative
Another interaction with Xi, another show of weakness. Joe Biden has essentially done the same thing over and over again during his tenure, raising concerns to Beijing over a plethora of issues but not taking any step — either words or actions — to force China to halt its provocations.
Pro-China narrative
While this phone call is certainly a reassurance that tensions remain managed, the US continues to say one thing while doing another. There is handsome potential for both nations to thrive in the same global order but this will only occur if America focuses on actions rather than words, and respects its commitments to measures such as the One-China policy.