Biden Intends to Speak With Xi to Defuse Tensions Over Balloon
- President delivers first extended public remarks on incidents
- Says he hopes to ‘get to the bottom’ of spat in talks with Xi
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President Joe Biden expects to speak with Xi Jinping about the Chinese balloon shot down by the US earlier this month, signaling a desire to end a dispute that has highlighted the fragility of relations between the world’s biggest economies.
Biden disclosed plans for the call as part of his most extensive remarks yet about the balloon saga, which led the US to destroy three other still-unidentified objects. He pledged to “responsibly manage” competition with China “so that it doesn’t veer into conflict” — echoing a sentiment expressed when both leaders pledged to improve ties during a November meeting.