WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden met China’s foreign minister at the White House on Friday to prepare for a possible visit by President Xi Jinping to the United States, as the two biggest economies try to ease tensions.
Biden has invited Xi to San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next month, but he has also maintained sanctions and supported US allies in disputes with China.
During the meeting, President Biden emphasized the need for responsible management of competition between the US and China and maintaining open lines of communication. They also discussed working together to address global challenges, including the Israel-Hamas conflict and climate change.
While there’s no confirmation yet of a meeting between President Biden and President Xi in San Francisco, this meeting was seen as a positive development to keep the conversation between the two nations going. Wang’s visit to Washington included meetings with Secretary Blinken and Adviser Sullivan, reflecting ongoing high-level contacts between the two countries.
Wang expressed a desire to stabilize US-China relations and reduce misunderstandings, acknowledging that differences will arise but stating that China would respond calmly.
The US and China have had tense relations as they compete for influence in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, with China increasing cooperation with Russia to reduce US dominance. Additionally, tensions have been high over the Taiwan issue, which Beijing claims.
Israeli Military Warns International Media about Safety of Journalists in Gaza
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have informed international news organizations Reuters and Agence France Presse (AFP) that they cannot guarantee the safety of their journalists working in the Gaza Strip.
This warning comes amid the ongoing Israeli bombardment and siege in Gaza, which has been ongoing for nearly three weeks. The IDF states that it is targeting Hamas military activity throughout Gaza and that these operations are deliberately placed near journalists and civilians.
They also mention that their high-intensity strikes on Hamas targets could cause damage to surrounding buildings and that misfires from Hamas rockets could endanger people in Gaza. As a result, the IDF cannot guarantee the safety of journalists working in this environment, and they have urged news organizations to take necessary safety measures.
