Biden, Xi trade warnings on Ukraine, Taiwan

Both leaders in video call agree for more engagement to “manage” U.S.-China competition

U.S. President Joe Biden warned China’s President Xi Jinping of “consequences” if Beijing decided to provide material support to Russia, as the two leaders spoke in a video call on Friday.

The Chinese leader, for his part, delivered a warning on U.S. support to Taiwan, a point emphasised by the readout of the call released by Beijing late on Friday.

A readout from the White House focused more on the Ukraine issue, underlining the contrasting priorities of the two leaders as well as the differences between the two sides as they grapple with continuing tensions in relations.

Both leaders did however come to an agreement to have closer and more frequent engagement between their officials to “manage” U.S.-China competition.

The White House said “the conversation focused on Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine” and Mr. Biden “described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians.”

What those consequences may be was not specified. In the wake of the sweeping sanctions targeting Russia, Chinese analysts have expressed concerns that Chinese institutions could be penalised for their links to Russia, prompting some state-run financial institutions in China to already curtail financing for Russian commodities.

Mr. Xi told Mr. Biden that “sweeping and indiscriminate sanctions would only make the people suffer” and “if further escalated, they could trigger serious crises in global economy and trade, finance,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.