On the topic of the Biden-Xi Talks: crouching eagle, hidden dragon

The video summit of US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping outwardly passed quite peacefully – in a "warm friendly online", if to use the style of Soviet times. And although there have been a lot of sudden movements and statements in the relations of the parties lately, it is difficult to call this a surprise: the advisers had been preparing negotiations for several months, so this impromptu was most likely well prepared.

It is most correct to regard the new format as a signal. The parties wanted to demonstrate a pragmatic approach and if not to agree on the rules of global competition for the near future, then at least to indicate that they do not want to bring the matter to confrontation.

This message to each other has been deliberately made public (the whole world has been taken as a witness to the fact that the parties can agree). However, it does not cancel any deep disagreements or acute contradictions. On the contrary, almost all of them were voiced. As well as calls for mutual responsibility.

It is no coincidence, therefore, that there were so many details in the comments just after it that mask the lack of real progress with the help of that very "friendly online atmosphere".

It is significant that representatives of the White House were particularly successful in the lulling style - in a telephone briefing after the results they praised the videoconference format, which allowed the leaders of the two countries to "interact with each other in a way they could not during phone calls," and also pointedly noted that the communication "was longer than expected - they talked for about 3.5 hours”.

"The essence of the meeting," it was reported, "was that the leaders discussed a way to regulate the rivalry of the countries in a responsible manner." After which, finally, a confession followed: "given the current state of relations between the United States and China, we did not expect breakthroughs; and they did not follow”.

In Beijing, the results were commented on in the same style. "The sides had a full and in-depth exchange of views on strategic, comprehensive and fundamental problems of the development of Sino-American relations, as well as important issues of mutual interest," China Central Television reported hot on the heels.

But the timing was calculated in detail – in total, the negotiations lasted 3 hours and 14 minutes: in the middle, it turns out, there was a break. It is impossible not to admit that the Chinese comrades know the art of placing accents in the genre of "lulling news" better than their American colleagues.

As for the content, both sides, in fact, repeated their positions, which were cemented in place in a number of speeches before. The US President, in particular, announced the previous list of claims against China, which includes the human rights situation in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, as well as the situation in a broader sense.

He assured that the United States adheres to the "one China" policy and does not create blocs against China, but stressed that Washington is strongly opposed to unilateral steps that change relations between Taiwan and the mainland, and also threaten to undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Biden also called on China to fulfil the terms of the trade deal with the United States, saying that he intends to protect the interests of national industry and workers from the expansion of China, and noted the difference of views on many issues on the complex topic of trade relations. The sides, however, did not discuss this hot topic in detail – according to American commentators, it is possible to continue negotiations on it, the prologue to which, probably, was a video conference of the leaders.

In his turn, the President of the People's Republic of China, whom a week before the meeting of the sixth plenum of the CPC Central Committee of the 19th convocation, called the "helmsman of the renaissance", thus putting him on a par with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, preferred to focus not on pretensions, but on trends.

He called for peaceful existence and cooperation, which requires "mutual respect" of the two powers, as well as greater efforts in the field of communication. He compared the United States and China to giant liners that are exposed to waves in the open sea, but must keep their course and maintain speed. He rejected human rights claims – these are internal affairs.

As for Taiwan, he made it clear that China is patient and expects peaceful unification, but warned against trying to use the island as a way to contain China: "Flirting with Taiwan's independence is playing with fire. However, those who play with fire will inevitably get burned themselves." He also advised his colleague not to "abuse the concept of national security for suppressing Chinese companies."

Currently, the leader of the People's Republic of China noted, "the development of the situation in China and the United States is at a critical stage," but he is "ready to work with Mr. President to form a consensus to move Sino-American relations forward."

According to Xi Jinping, it is important not only to "do well with your own internal affairs, but also to fulfil your international responsibilities." And they are significant. "Healthy and stable Sino-American relations" are necessary to maintain a peaceful and stable international environment, as well as to respond effectively to global challenges, including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi Jinping said.

So, where does it leave us? Looks like there is not so much to see here. There is a restrained positive from the very fact of preparing and holding a videoconference – it, anyway, suggests that the parties are aware of how toxic and non-functional the openly conflicting style of their relations is. But all this is pretty levelled by the fact that both leaders talk about their own things - they work, so to speak, for their domestic political market.

Biden's approval rating is falling due to inflation, the consequences of the pandemic, the urgent withdrawal from Afghanistan. China's leader has his own worries – growing problems due to lack of energy, a crisis in the real estate sector. There is no need for additional shocks and political costs from the global confrontation now. However, experts are wary of calling this process a detente, by analogy with the Cold War, or at least a reboot. Most likely, it is simply put on pause.   

The "strategic rivalry" with China, proclaimed,  let's recall, by the coordinator for the Indo-Pacific region at the National Security Council at the White House Kurt Campbell at Stanford University in May of this year, has not been canceled.

According to Ethan Paul, a researcher from the Institute of Responsible Public Administration. John Adams Quincy (DC, USA), it may remain the defining vector of US foreign policy for decades. Structures, concepts, personnel and global partnerships like AUKUS are being created for it – as at time, in the early 2000s, all this was created for the fight against terrorism. China does not  leave such things without attention.

As for the call to make "strategic competition" also "responsible", Beijing responded to it. But according to the Chinese tradition, they will say their last word only when they will see what results from the new American rhetoric. Of course, in a warm and friendly atmosphere.