US President Joe Biden highlights China's human rights record, Taiwan issue at East Asia Summit in Cambodia

Addressing the East Asia Summit in Cambodia on November 13, United States President Joe Biden told Asian leaders that the US would keep its line of communication with China open to prevent conflict.

He also stressed the necessity of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and peace in the Taiwan Strait.

However, he stated that the US would speak out over China's human rights records.


Biden stated that the US would compete "vigorously" with China but ensure that competition does not turn into conflict. The US president also condemned Russia for invading Ukraine. Besides, he asked Myanmar's military rulers to follow the peace plan on which they agreed with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

The US president's comments have come just ahead of G-20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, scheduled this week. Notably, during the G-20 Summit, Biden will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for the first time after becoming the US president.



The East Asia Summit was attended by 18 countries, including India, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and the ASEAN countries. At the summit, Russia's President Vladimir Putin was represented by the country's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who accused the US and its NATO allies of militarizing Southeast Asia to "master this space." Lavrov also criticized Biden's Indo-pacific strategy, saying that the US president was trying to bypass "inclusive structures" for regional cooperation.

FAQs:

1. Where is the G-20 Summit scheduled to be held?
   The G-20 Summit will be held in Indonesia's Bali.
2. How many countries did participate in the East Asia Summit?
   The East Asia Summit was attended by eighteen countries.