The anticipated meeting this Wednesday between President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping comes at a critical time. President Biden has an opportunity to stand firm for human rights, push back against economic coercion and unfair trade practices, and strengthen communication between the military leaders and people of our two countries. For this meeting to accomplish these important objectives, here are five things President Biden must make abundantly clear to General Secretary Xi.
Establish a military-to-military communication channel.
Military-to-military communication is essential to advance our interests and avoid miscalculation—especially as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to ramp up its military aggression in the Indo-Pacific. In the last two months alone, the CCP threatened Taiwan by sending warplanes near the island, rammed the Philippines' ships in the South China Sea, and nearly collided with an American B-52 bomber operating in the region. This consistent display of military aggression is putting undue pressure on democratic governments and threatens global security. President Biden must make clear that the U.S. will continue to strengthen deterrence and reinforce that our ties with our friends in the region are ironclad.
Economic and trade aggression will be met with strong countermeasures.
Similarly, President Biden must be clear that we will aggressively counter all unfair economic and trade actions that seek to undermine our rules-based economic system. As the CCP attempts to dominate emerging technologies and critical supply chains, it is relying on economic coercion and predatory practices like dumping and intellectual property theft to advance its goals. President Biden should insist that the U.S. will remain open to economic engagement, but not at the expense of jeopardizing our long-term prosperity. To maintain our standing as the world's economic leader, Biden will need to stand up to China's unfair competitive practices.
Human rights abuses must end.
The CCP's record of human rights violations is an affront to universal values, and General Secretary Xi should hear these concerns directly from President Biden. The CCP's genocide against Uyghurs, repression against Tibetans, imprisonment of Chinese dissidents, and crushing of Hong Kong's freedom and autonomy must be reversed. In his dialogue with Xi, President Biden should be clear that fundamental improvements in U.S.-China ties cannot take place absent these changes and he must use this opportunity to address the CCP's inhumane practices against the Chinese people, at home and abroad.
Strengthen people-to-people relations.
People-to-people ties are essential to the future of the U.S.-China relationship. President Biden should reiterate that the U.S. is open to engagement and keen on social exchanges. One example is to bring back the Fulbright China program, which, for nearly half a century, broadened perspectives of American and Chinese scholars through academic and cross-cultural exchange. Abruptly halted in 2020, now is the time to revive that program to provide the U.S. with a "fingertip feel for China," and serve as a building block for better understanding between the people of our two countries.
Moving forward with confidence and strength.
There has been a lot of discussion recently about whether "engagement" with the CCP is good or bad. That debate totally misses the point. There must be engagement, but it must be pursued in a manner that promotes and protects our security, prosperity, and values. Meetings for the sake of meetings are a waste of time. If President Biden can use this opportunity to send a clear and direct message to President Xi about our intentions and interests, then we can better avoid miscalculation and show our allies and partners that we are sincere in pursuing peace and stability with our strongest competitor.
This week's meeting can be an important restart in forging an open dialogue, protecting our security and economic interests, and reassuring our allies in the region that we have their backs. A clear and direct message to Xi from the president will help us build a more secure world by clearly articulating the values that we as Americans are determined to uphold.
Raja Krishnamoorth (D-Ill.) is the ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Five Things Biden Should Accomplish During His Meeting With Xi
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13.11.2023
The anticipated meeting this Wednesday between President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping comes at a critical time. President Biden has an opportunity to stand firm for human rights, push back against economic coercion and unfair trade practices, and strengthen communication between the military leaders and people of our two countries. For this meeting to accomplish these important objectives, here are five things President Biden must make abundantly clear to General Secretary Xi.
Establish a military-to-military communication channel.
Military-to-military communication is essential to advance our interests and avoid miscalculation—especially as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to ramp up its military aggression in the Indo-Pacific. In the last two months alone, the CCP threatened Taiwan by sending warplanes near the island, rammed the Philippines' ships in the South China Sea, and nearly collided with an American B-52 bomber operating in the region. This consistent display of military aggression is putting undue pressure on democratic governments and threatens global security. President Biden must make clear that the U.S.........
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