Since taking office, Joe Biden is already reaching out to world leaders to reaffirm relations as well as mention his concerns. With China becoming an increasing presence in the world, Biden brings up his concerns about the country’s practices in his first phone call to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The White House released a statement summarizing a readout of Biden’s first phone conversation with Xi, reaffirming the US’ stance on certain issues such as a free and open Indo-Pacific and priorities on protecting the interests of America. Biden also brought up the concerns he had regarding China, noting Beijing’s economic practices as well as the situations in both Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as the human rights issues in Xinjiang.
At the same time, both leaders discussed combatting the COVID-19 pandemic which has still claimed lives and infected millions more as of late, nuclear arms and climate change. Despite the cordial conversation between the two leaders, Biden seems unlikely to lift the tariffs imposed on China by the Trump administration while also being unlikely to reduce military presence in the region. On the other side, Xi congratulated Biden for getting inaugurated while also calling for more cooperation between the two countries, as reported by state media.
“You said the greatest feature of America is possibility. I hope that this possibility now develops in a direction conducive to the improvement of bilateral relations,” said Xi in the transcript of the call. When it came to matters concerning Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, Xi, however, urged Biden not to interfere as it was a matter of internal affairs in China.
While Biden has already kept in touch with the Chinese leader, he has yet to reach out to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is despite Biden having already kept in touch with most of the country’s allies except for Israel, which has come across as a concern on Israel’s part that gives off the impression that Netanyahu is being left out of Biden’s call list due to his close ties to his predecessor. Aside from close ties to Donald Trump, there was also the antagonism presented towards former President Barack Obama during his term.
“It’s a clear sign of displeasure from President Biden with the fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu was perceived in Washington for 12 years as almost a card-carrying member of the Republican Party,” said former Israel consul-general Dani Dayan.