Ahead of a virtual meeting between US President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping on Monday, the Financial Times (FT) reported, citing people familiar with the matter, both leaders will discuss ways to prevent tensions from spiralling into conflict, in the face of rising concern about Taiwan and Beijing’s nuclear arsenal.

Key takeaways

“The two leaders have held two calls this year.”

“Both sides were lowering expectations about outcomes from the discussion, which is not being billed as a “summit”.”

“Biden is also expected to raise the issue of nuclear weapons, after the Pentagon warned that China would quadruple its nuclear warhead arsenal this decade.” 

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