Key Takeaways From Xi-Biden Summit

Earlier today, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in person for the first time in Biden’s presidency: a crucial relationship-building exercise in response to growing tensions over Taiwan, Beijing’s partnership with Moscow, and U.S.-China tech tensions. 

While both leaders held firm on key positions, they each expressed a desire to return to more normal relations between their two countries. According to expert Scott Kennedy, the meeting “urgently needed, because the situation has become dire.” Reflecting on a recent visit to the People’s Republic, Kennedy argues that Beijing has become dangerously locked off from the world. If you read only one piece today, make it this one. For more China news and analysis, sign up for FP’s weekly briefing.

In other news, the chaos at Twitter took center stage online last week, as its new leader, Elon Musk, laid off half of the company’s global workforce, dismantling its human rights and content moderation teams, among others. To understand the global ripple effects, Foreign Policy reporter Rishi Iyengar spoke with experts who argued that it will be harder to protect dissidents and police misinformation, while also noting that Musk’s business links with Saudi Arabia and Qatar could create crucial vulnerabilities for the platform’s overseas operations.—The editors

New and Noteworthy

• Ones and Tooze Live: FP podcast Ones and Tooze co-hosts Adam Tooze and Cameron Abadi recorded one of their recent episodes live at the Caveat Theatre in New York City. They discussed the malign influence of billionaire Peter Thiel on U.S. politics and the declining importance of Wall Street as a place to hang out your shingle. Watch the on-demand recording.
• Ethiopia’s Perilous Path to Peace: Ethiopia’s government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have agreed to grant unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray, potentially bringing relief to millions of people who have been on the verge of famine due to a grinding blockade that has prevented the entry of aid. The Ethiopian government and the TPLF’s latest commitment builds on a truce that both parties signed on Nov. 2. The agreement was widely seen as a breakthrough and potential glimmer of hope in the conflict—although many political hurdles could threaten its success. Read FP’s flagship daily newsletter, Morning Brief.

FP Live: Debrief on the G-20 Summit

Nov. 17, 2022 | 11 a.m. EST

The world’s largest economies will gather in Bali, Indonesia, for the G-20 summit in mid-November. Our expert panel, including Lynn Kuok, Matthew Kroenig, and Edward Alden, will consider the successes and failures of the summit, whether wealthy nations are doing enough to reinvigorate the global economy, and the geopolitical implications of the latest meeting among world leaders.

Register here.

Most Popular on FP

Book Excerpt: How Putin Came to Fear ‘Color Revolutions’

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Western analysts and policymakers have fixated on the question of what is going on inside Russian President Vladimir Putin’s head. The answer feels ever more urgent—and elusive—amid Putin’s threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Before Putin’s war in Ukraine began, Russia expert Andrew S. Weiss—currently based at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace—had already begun working with an illustrator, Brian “Box” Brown, on a graphic novel called Accidental Czar: The Life and Lies of Vladimir Putin. Weiss has dedicated his career to studying Russia, with stints in the White House as well as the U.S. State and Defense departments, but analyzing Putin in the form of a graphic novel was a “big leap into the unknown,” he said. Continue reading on Foreign Policy. 

This article is adapted from Accidental Czar: The Life and Lies of Vladimir Putin by Andrew S. Weiss, with illustrations by Brian “Box” Brown.

From Around FP

• The Next Big Idea: In the latest season of Africa Forward, we’re looking at African-led conservation. You could call it a new model of conservation, but its roots are in Africa’s traditional ways of conserving nature. African-led conservation takes a holistic approach, connecting the dots between conservation, climate change, and economic development. In the final episode of Season 2, we’ll look at the linchpin of this model: people. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• Upcoming Events: Tomorrow, join us for a timely discussion in partnership with the Population Institute, which will consider how strengthening investments in women and girls is central to achieving greater security and prosperity for communities around the world. Plus, on Dec. 1 we will be hosting our fourth annual Her Power Summit, where we will convene leaders, experts, and change-makers across policy, business, and civil society working to defend women’s rights and ensure greater equity and inclusion around the world.

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