[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] U.S. President Joe Biden announced on the 13th that he will raise issues of human rights and the Taiwan Strait when meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. President Biden will hold his first summit with President Xi on the following day, coinciding with the G20 summit held in Bali, Indonesia.
The White House disclosed that President Biden, who visited Phnom Penh, Cambodia to attend the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit, made these remarks regarding U.S.-China relations at the East Asia Summit (EAS). President Biden said, "We will keep communication lines open and make it clear that competition should not escalate into conflict," but also stated, "The United States will compete fiercely with China and will speak out against China's human rights abuses."
President Biden further emphasized, "It is important to maintain stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait," and stressed, "Freedom of navigation and overflight must be respected in the East China Sea and the South China Sea." He added, "Any disputes must be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law," explaining, "The United States supports the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which is final and legally binding." In 2016, the PCA ruled that China's claim of sovereignty over 90% of the waters in the South China Sea, based on the U-shaped nine-dash line, has no legal basis under international law.
Earlier on the same day, immediately after winning the Democratic Party primary in Nevada, President Biden expressed confidence regarding the summit with President Xi, saying, "I am entering the meeting stronger."
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