White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during a news conference at the White House in Washington, U.S., on Thursday, July 28, 2022. (Bloomberg) — Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping are expected to speak virtually Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the matter, part of an effort to help manage tensions from Taiwan to Ukraine and avoid misunderstandings between the superpowers..
The video call, which a second person said was expected to last about 90 minutes, is the latest in a series of engagements between the two leaders, underscoring the delicate state of the relationship despite growing rivalry between them. Biden has sought to engage Xi personally to discuss the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on global energy and food markets, as well as to coordinate on issues such as climate change and North Korea where they have shared interests..
The call is expected to take place before the midterm elections in November when Biden’s Democrats are seeking to maintain control of Congress. Biden has been criticized by Republicans for being too soft on China, and the White House may be hoping to blunt those attacks by demonstrating that he is engaged with Xi..
Taiwan is likely to be a major topic of discussion. China has stepped up military exercises around the island in response to a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August. Biden has said he is committed to a .
