Matías Otero Johansson
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"The APEC meeting: #China attempts to mend an unhappy marriage.
The US has been asking to resume high-level talks, especially military channels, for years. The US has developed this doctrine after extensive experience in almost ending the world (see Cuban missile crisis). China has refused to play ball, which worries US officials. US leadership is fully aware that while the Chinese government may talk peace and cooperation abroad, it operates extensive propaganda networks that paints America as China's enemy.
The situation is delicate for Chairman Xi. After years of claiming the 'West is declining and the East is rising', a visit to the US during an economic crisis is an admission of political weakness. There's a tacit understanding that this is a "tribute mission" of sorts to secure US trade and investment amid economic turmoil. The #US is well aware. Biden has pointedly referred to the Chinese economy as a 'time bomb'.
The Chinese side has attempted to mask a weak position by employing an old divide-and-conquer tactic: Circumventing political leadership and appealing directly to the US business community. Chinese officials asked that if Xi Jinping agreed to meet, he first wanted to sit down for a banquet with American business leaders. The Americans refused.
The relationship remains contentious but both sides have an interest in preventing a mutually destructive "hot war" and maintaining stable trade links. Given the CCP's reliance on nationalist sentiment to legitimize itself, we shouldn't expect genuine warm feelings anytime soon, but an overleveraged China clearly has realized it cannot afford to rock the boat.
The main goal from Xi's side is reopening the American FDI faucet whilst 'saving face', preserving the strongman image he has cultivated at home. Biden is clearly having none of it - see video [above]."