War in Ukraine: Joe Biden warns China, Xi Jinping cultivates ambiguity
US President Joe Biden spoke for nearly two hours with his Chinese counterpart.
REUTERS - HANDOUT
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The Chinese and American presidents spoke to each other this Friday, March 18, for nearly two hours.
Xi Jinping and Joe Biden discussed relations between their two countries and the international situation with the war in Ukraine.
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With our correspondents in Beijing and Washington,
Stéphane Lagarde
and
Guillaume Naudin
“
On the evening of March 18 Beijing time, President Xi Jinping had a video call with US President Joe Biden,
reports China Central Television,
to discuss China-US relations and issues of common interests.
".
What are the questions shared precisely during these 1h52 minute interview?
First, the observation that since the attack launched by Russia, “
the international situation has undergone major changes
”.
"
The Ukrainian crisis is something we don't want to see
," said Xi Jinping, who still does not condemn the Russian invasion, at least in the comments reported by the Xinhua agency.
A “
crisis
” therefore, the Chinese number one does not use the word “war” either.
He prefers the terms “
conflict
” and “
confrontation
” which are, he says, “
in no one's interest
”.
Then, Xi Jinping uses the we of the equality between two partners: “
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the two largest economies in the world, we must (…) assume our international responsibilities and make efforts for world peace and tranquility.
For Beijing, this new videoconference between the two heads of state is indeed a sign that the United States needs China to end the conflict.
The “consequences” of Chinese aid to Russia
Several hours after China, the White House finally delivered its vision of the exchange.
She does not bother herself with considerations on the tone of the conversation.
The statement is straight to the point.
Joe Biden therefore explained to his counterpart the position of the United States and its allies and partners on this crisis and detailed his efforts to prevent it and then respond to it, including by imposing strong sanctions on Russia.
The president also outlined the implications and consequences for China if it provided material aid to Russia as it brutally attacks Ukrainian towns and civilians.
Joe Biden reiterates his support for a diplomatic solution.
But speaking of Ukraine, the two men also had
in mind Taiwan, which China
does not hide that it intends to regain control one day, including by force if necessary.
Joe Biden therefore explains that the American position on this subject has not changed and that he continues to oppose any unilateral change in the status quo, while Xi Jinping prefers to hear that the United States opposes the nationalist island independence.
A point of agreement finally between the two leaders: the need to continue to communicate to avoid a worsening of the international situation and that their competition and their differences of view do not become too exacerbated.
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