by Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden said he planned to speak with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping soon, without saying more, as he released details of a a submarine deal with Britain and Australia to counter China.
Asked if he was concerned that Beijing considers the so-called “AUKUS” security agreement as an aggression, the head of the White House replied “no”.
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in San Diego, California, Joe Biden said yes when asked if he plans to speak with Xi soon Jinping. He declined to say more about a possible date for such an exchange.
The American president said last month that he intended to speak with his Chinese counterpart about the balloon that flew over American territory, which Washington shot down denouncing a spy device. The incident has fueled tensions with Beijing, which has rejected any act of espionage and blamed the United States for damaging bilateral relations.
So far, no talks between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping have been officially scheduled.
Washington wants to restore regular communications with China, according to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who indicated last week that a Biden-Xi phone interview could come shortly after the Chinese government resumes work. following the annual plenary session of Parliament, which ended on Monday.
The AUKUS deal plans to equip Australia with nuclear-capable submarines to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Beijing has condemned the move, describing it as an illegal act of nuclear proliferation.
Xi Jinping plans to travel to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin there as early as next week, people familiar with the matter have learned from Reuters.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Chinese president also wants to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodimir Zelensky for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. This telephone discussion should take place after his visit to Russia .
Jake Sullivan told reporters on Monday that Washington had publicly and privately pressed Xi Jinping to meet with Volodimir Zelensky and get Ukraine’s point of view, not just Russia’s, close to Russia. China.
Kyiv has not confirmed the scheduling of a meeting between the two leaders, the White House national security adviser added.
(Report Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom, with Michael Martina; French version Jean Terzian)
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