During their recent phone conversation, President Joe Biden reiterated his warning to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding potential interference in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
The call, which aims to foster open communication to manage competition and prevent unintended conflicts, underlines the U.S.’s ongoing efforts to address concerns over election meddling.
The U.S. has consistently expressed apprehension about Chinese interference in its elections, with President Biden raising the issue during their meeting in Woodside, California. Despite Beijing’s assurances of non-interference in U.S. affairs, the U.S. remains cautious, emphasizing the importance of verification.
Biden heading to an occasion (Credits: The Wall Street Journal)
A declassified U.S. intelligence assessment released in February highlighted China’s sophisticated influence tactics, including using generative AI to exploit societal divisions in the U.S. online sphere. Specific operations, such as “Spamouflage,” have been identified, leveraging wedge issues to target individuals like President Biden.
In response, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, refuted claims of election interference, asserting China’s commitment to non-interference principles.
The leaders also reviewed progress on various issues discussed during their previous summit, including counter-narcotics cooperation and military communication.
Biden, US President (Credits: Reuters)
The call coincided with preparations for a trilateral summit involving Japan and the Philippines, where maritime cooperation initiatives will be revealed to counter China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea. Recent tensions, including China’s use of water cannons against Philippine vessels, underscore the urgency of addressing grey zone coercion tactics.
President Biden emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, an issue that remains a point of contention between the U.S. and China. Additionally, concerns were raised over Chinese cyber activities, leading to sanctions against China-linked hackers targeting critical U.S. infrastructure.
Diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and China is set to continue, with visits by U.S. Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken planned in the coming days and weeks. Discussions on AI risk management and other global issues were also part of the leaders’ agenda, highlighting the multifaceted nature of U.S.-China relations.
