Joe Biden cautions Xi Jinping of China to “be careful” about his friendship with Vladimir Putin (Watch Video)
President Joe Biden of the United States has issued a cautious warning to Chinese President Xi Jinping following his meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Biden emphasized the importance of China’s reliance on Western investment and urged Xi to exercise caution in his dealings.
During an interview with CNN, Biden clarified that his remarks were not meant as a threat but rather an observation. He pointed out that since Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, 600 American corporations have withdrawn from the country. Considering China’s economy heavily depends on investments from Europe and the United States, Biden urged Xi to be careful in his actions.
In March, Putin and Xi engaged in two days of talks, expressing warm sentiments of friendship between their countries while criticizing the West. However, they did not reach a diplomatic breakthrough concerning the situation in Ukraine. Recently, the two leaders also participated in a virtual summit.
Tensions and pessimism have escalated in the U.S.-China relationship in recent years, primarily stemming from national security concerns such as Taiwan, Russia’s actions in Ukraine, export bans on advanced technologies imposed by the U.S., and China’s state-led industrial policies.
Xi’s close relationship with Putin has been a recurring point of contention in East-West relations. Xi has previously referred to Putin as his “best, most intimate friend.” Despite Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Xi has maintained his commitment to fostering strong relations between China and Russia. Just weeks before launching the military operation, Putin visited Beijing and signed a partnership agreement that China once described as having “no limits.”