Joe Biden likely to meet Xi Jinping almost next week: Report
US President Joe Biden is likely to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping virtually ‘soon next week’, news agency Reuters quoted sources as saying. However, neither the White House nor the Chinese embassy in Washington has confirmed whether the meeting will take place.
Earlier this week, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that there is “an agreement in principle” for a virtual meeting “before the end of the year”.
Bloomberg quoted him as saying, “This is part of our ongoing efforts to responsibly manage competition between our countries.”
The discussion between the leaders of the world’s two economic giants has intensified amid the increased tension between the two countries regarding Taiwan.
Washington has also expressed concern over Beijing’s reported massive expansion of its nuclear arsenal.
According to a Pentagon report released last week, China is expanding its nuclear force much faster than US officials predicted a year ago. The report said that the number of Chinese nuclear weapons could increase to 700 within six years and above 1,000 by 2030.
The report did not say how many weapons China has today, but a year ago the Pentagon said the number was in the “low 200” and was likely to double by the end of this decade. The United States, by comparison, has 3,750 nuclear warheads and has no plans to increase it. As recently as 2003, America’s total number was about 10,000.
US defense officials have said they are concerned about China’s intentions regarding the situation in Taiwan.
“The developed capabilities and concepts of the PLA continue to strengthen (China’s) ability to fight and win a war against a formidable enemy,” the report said. Self-governing island which China claims as its own.
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