Biden, Xi Focus on U.S.-China Relations Amid Challenges

President Joe Biden's final international summits as U.S. president were marked by missing key photo opportunities at both the G20 and APEC summits, where logistical issues prevented his appearance in group photos. At the APEC summit in Peru, Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade, Taiwan, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Xi warning about potential tensions with the incoming Trump administration. Concurrently, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed America's commitment to defending the Philippines against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. At the G20 summit, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Xi to discuss strengthening UK-China relations, despite disputes over human rights and Hong Kong.