President Joe Biden will speak with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China on Friday, the White House announced Thursday.
What the White House said: “This is part of our ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the United States and the PRC,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.
- “The two leaders will discuss managing the competition between our two countries as well as Russia’s war against Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern.”
Flashback: The United States issued a warning for China not to get involved in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, per NBC News.
- U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan told Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in a meeting earlier this week that China’s involvement could impact relationships around the world, NBC News reports.
The bigger picture: U.S. officials have been monitoring China for reportedly spreading Russian misinformation about the war, including narratives around chemical and biological weapons, per The Associated Press.
- “There are also reports — denied by the Kremlin — that Russia has reached out to China for aid as it faces sanctions and an invasion that faces stiff resistance by Ukrainians,” The Associated Press reports.