Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament

To stabilize ties with China, US needs to honor Biden’s Bali promises

  • Ding Heng Ding Heng
  • Source: Al Mayadeen English
  • 15 Nov 2023 15:50
6 Min Read

When it comes to international relations, making sure a country’s deeds match its words is also a matter of integrity.

  • x
  • To stabilize ties with China, US needs to honor Biden’s Bali promises
    (illustrated by: Zeinab El Hajj, Al Mayadeen English) 

Restoring a degree of stability in the Beijing-Washington relationship is arguably a priority of the US foreign policy at the moment, and there are multiple reasons – domestic and international – why the US seeks to do so. A meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden in San Francisco, built upon the two sides’ diplomatic engagement so far this year, is a great chance for the US to pursue this goal.

That being said, if the US repeats a past mistake of talking the talk without walking the walk, it will be difficult for a top leaders’ meeting to guarantee more signs of stability in bilateral ties. When the two leaders met in Indonesia’s Bali last year, Biden made an array of nice pledges to Xi, and their talks generated optimism about the relationship at the time. However, Washington is yet to convince Beijing with real actions that it is serious about those promises.

One thing Biden said in Bali is that the US respects China’s system, and does not seek to change it. It was once an unspoken US expectation that its trade and economic engagement with China would see the country evolve into a western-style democracy, but China’s development path has shown that its own system also works well in delivering economic prosperity. Therefore, it’s probably inevitable that the US comes to realize that attempts to change China’s system will be futile.

Development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom are the common aspirations of all peoples. Different countries have different approaches – including different political systems – to pursue these aspirations. In China’s mentality, such differences ought to be respected, which is why refraining from intervening in other countries’ internal affairs is a key principle in China’s foreign policy. In fact, Xi suggested to Biden in Bali that American-style democracy fits US conditions.

Related News

Why the US is unqualified to promote peace between Thailand and Cambodia

Georges Ibrahim Abdallah: Lebanon’s lion roars the truth

By comparison, the US is yet to put away its pride and prejudice, as US officials continue to endorse a narrative that frames so-called US-China competition as an ideological battle of “democracy versus authoritarianism”. During a US visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June, Biden said India, unlike China, shares a democratic character with the US. Such a narrative certainly has nothing to do with showing respect for China’s system.

Biden made it clear in Bali that the US does not seek a new Cold War, and does not seek to revitalize alliances against China. The reality, however, seems to be in stark contrast with Biden’s statement. The US has since moved to deepen a military alliance involving Japan and South Korea, with an August trilateral summit at Camp David partly taking aim at China. The US played a major role in the Philippines’ shift towards a confrontational approach to its South China Sea dispute with China. A September statement by the Pentagon said that US defense officials are encouraged by the way allies are increasingly acting together to counter China. From China’s perspective, these developments are precisely signs that the US is shoring up its Asia Pacific alliances to contain China.

On Taiwan, Biden made a pledge in Bali that the US does not support “Taiwan independence”, and does not support “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”. Although this year has not seen something as provocative as last summer’s visit to Taiwan by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the US has continued with actions that in effect embolden Taiwan independence forces to pursue their agenda. Those moves include rushing to arm Taiwan, allowing Taiwan’s leader and deputy leader to make stopover visits to the US, signing a trade pact with Taiwan, etc. To China, they have raised a serious concern that the US is hollowing out the “one China” principle. In a bigger picture sense, a perception continues to exist that the US is using the Taiwan question as a card in a geopolitical game to counter China.

The Bali meeting also witnessed Biden claim that the US has no intention to seek de-coupling from China, or to halt China’s economic development. In this regard, there seem to be a mixed picture. The fact that this year’s China International Import Expo was participated by the first official US representation is of course a sign that some US government officials see China’s development as an opportunity. The setting up of bilateral economic and financial working groups also represents a step in the right direction. On the other hand, while complete de-coupling is impossible, technological de-coupling is certainly on the mind of the US government. Last month, the US unveiled new measures that seek to further restrict China’s access to advanced AI chips made by American firms. In contrast, days after the US ban was announced, China proposed a global AI governance initiative, calling for equal rights on AI development for all nations.

Both Chinese and American cultures attach importance to keeping one’s words. Ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius once said that “a man without credibility is capable of nothing”. And “undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise” is a quote in a rules book that George Washington copied by hand and kept with him. When it comes to international relations, making sure a country’s deeds match its words is also a matter of integrity.

In a recent global online poll conducted by CGTN, some 86% of respondents believed that the key to maintaining the healthy and stable development of China-US relations is to implement the consensus reached by Xi and Biden in Bali. The US needs to do much more, or simply cease some of its existing practices, in order to convince China that it is genuinely seeking to stabilize bilateral relations.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Mayadeen’s editorial stance.
  • United States
  • China
  • Joe Biden
  • Xi Jinping
Ding Heng

Ding Heng

Radio host and columnist.

Most Read

All
Given ample indications Epstein was collating sexual blackmail material on powerful figures for intelligence agencies, comments made by Mirage's cofounder to Ynet take on a chilling character. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Zionist spies innovate AI sexual blackmail tech

  • Analysis
  • 27 Jul 2025
The right wing love affair with Zionism has ended

The right wing love affair with Zionism has ended

  • Opinion
  • 23 Jul 2025
Beyond the United States are critical leftist perspectives which underline the reawakening of the Arab left. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

The Reawakening of the Arab Left: Amman to Tunis, new voices challenging empire and capital

  • Opinion
  • 21 Jul 2025
What is the current state of Resistance forces, after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, the collapse of independent Syria and the ongoing attacks on Lebanon and Iran? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

Regional Resistance after the Gaza Genocide

  • Analysis
  • 25 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
War on Iran

More from this writer

All
Marking 50 years of China-EU diplomacy matters

Marking 50 years of China-EU diplomacy matters

China remains a reliable player in global trade

China remains a reliable player in global trade

Imposing tariffs on Chinese goods shipped to the US hurts China, but American consumers are the victims as well. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

Let stability prevail over turbulence in China-US ties

Let common sense return in Australia’s China policy

Let common sense return in Australia’s China policy

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS