Biden to push back on China’s coercion against Australia in one-on-one with Xi

US President Joe Biden is expected to raise China’s economic coercion against nations like Australia in an one-on-one virtual summit with his Beijing counterpart Xi Jinping.

Xi Jinping and Joe Biden will meet virtually for talks on Tuesday. Picture: AFP

US President Joe Biden is expected to raise China’s economic coercion against nations such as Australia in an one-on-one virtual summit with his Beijing counterpart, Xi Jinping.

Mr Biden and Mr Xi will join the meeting via videoconference on Tuesday in their major sit-down since the US President signed the major trilateral AUKUS security partnership with Australia and Britain in the Indo-Pacific in September.

Reports on Monday night said Mr Biden was expected to bring up the Chinese government’s economic tactics against states such as Australia who do not adopt or align with Beijing’s policies.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, China has made several trade ­attacks – from tariffs to blockages – and threats to Australian ­exports including coal, international education, barley, lobster, and beef.

Since Mr Biden took office in January, the US has also strengthened its security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, including in the major submarine deal with Australia and Britain in September.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that the White House has been tight-lipped about the hoped outcome of the meeting

“The Biden administration is not trying to change China through bilateral engagement – we don’t think that’s realistic,” a senior Biden administration official told the newspaper.

“We’re trying to shape the international environment in a way that is favourable to us and our allies and partners.”

The Journal also reported Mr Biden would raise the security of Taiwan in the meeting with Mr Xi, as the Chinese President ramps up his campaign to reclaim the ­island for mainland China.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton told The Weekend Australian that it would “inconceivable” for Australia not to join a US-led mission to protect Taiwan from Chinese invasion if asked to do so, and said China has no right to Taiwan.

Scott Morrison has also said this week he would not sell out Australia’s national interests ­despite demands from China that include impinging free speech.

Building on a surprise joint ­declaration in Glasgow last week pledging co-operation on a transition to cleaner energy, Mr Biden is expected to seek agreement on ­issues including nuclear proliferation and the management of the pandemic.

The President will also reportedly raise concerns over human rights – for which the US has ­installed sanctions – and Chinese economic practices.

A major sticking point in US- Chinese diplomatic relations remains Taiwan, the self-governed democratic island of 20 million people that China claims is part of its territory.

Mr Biden is scheduled to sign a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill this week that is viewed as essential in keeping up with China’s domestic investments.

The Asia Society Policy Institute’s Danny Russel, a former ­senior official in the Obama ­administration, said the meeting marks a shift in the course of the US-China relationship that has been marred by tensions.

“We are at a point where there is some shift under way,” he told the Journal.

“Both leaders are dissatisfied with the state of the relationship. They are both very mindful that some type of incident could occur that would create a problem that neither can afford right now.”

US business leaders are looking for stability when it comes to trade, with the US largely keeping in place Trump-era tariffs, though Mr Biden is not expected to offer concessions on Monday.

The summit comes days after Mr Xi warned against a “new cold war” in the Asia-Pacific, and Mr Biden’s National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the US was making a “big bet” on Australia through the AUKUS partnership.