President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping are set to meet virtually on Monday after a tumultuous start to the Biden administration. This comes with the US insisting she is not trying to contain China.

Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, set to meet for talks.

The most alarming scenario is China’s intense pressure on the self-governing island of Taiwan amid a gathering debate in Washington about what to do in case of an invasion and deep concern about China’s frenzy build-up of conventional and nuclear weapons.

Joe Biden’s administration accuses Xi’s government of overplaying its hand in territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and also committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province, and eviscerating democracy in Hong Kong. Biden further insisted China has not explained the origins of Covid-19 in Wuhan.

The meeting is taking place online due to the pandemic. Xi has moved aggressively to cement his own power and he is expected to secure an almost unprecedented third five-year team next year after the Communist Party elevated him to the same symbolic stature as former leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. There is hope in various quarters for tangible solutions to ease tensions that will emerge from the talks.