At Friday’s joint news conference, President Xi defended Beijing’s claim to the area and said its construction work on artificial islands there doesn’t target any country and stressed that it “doesn’t intend to pursue militarization”.
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President Obama screened off the White House windows to block out a human rights demonstration on Friday during a state dinner honoring Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi wanted to assuage their fears, and also to let them know China’s recent economic struggles haven’t diminished the massive opportunity for American businesses to reach the 1.3 billion people who live there. “The question is now, are words followed by action?”
There were clear limits to Friday’s deal.
But the agreement stopped short of any promise to refrain from traditional government-to-government cyber spying for intelligence purposes. For example, many have linked the Chinese to the hack of 21.5 million Office of Personnel Management records acknowledged by the agency this summer.
“We should cooperate because cooperation will benefit both and confrontation will lead to losses on both sides”, Xi said through an interpreter at the press conference. China is the world’s biggest cyber country in terms of the number of Web users.
The two sides also said they would set up a high-level joint dialogue on cybercrime in which senior officials from both countries would be able to review allegations of cyber-intrusions.
However, Obama said, “I have to insist that our work is not yet done. We do believe that having those tools on the table, including possible financial sanctions, have been effective as a deterrent and in advancing our interest in that regard”.
“China’s “green dispatch” system will prioritize power generation from renewable resources, and establish guidelines to accept electricity first from the most efficient and lowest-polluting fossil fuel generators,” the statement says.
Another great example of their promises is the fact that China has repeatedly promised to engage in human rights reforms and to stop treating their subjects like slaves with absolutely no rights.
An early morning welcome ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, complete with band music, a military review, and a 21-gun salute, preceded the private meetings involving the two presidents and their aides. The two men struck a serious, businesslike tone when they appeared later before reporters, showing little sign of close personal rapport.
Both the USA and China have committed to doing their part to address the cyber issues and take steps to resolving this issue. “At present, the exchange rate between renminbi and USA dollars is moving toward stability”, Xi said.
For Mr. Obama, the deal with China strengthens his hand ahead of a global summit on climate change in Paris in December.
On other issues, the leaders either politely disagreed or made only vague commitments.
Mr. Xi said: “Islands in the South China Sea since ancient times are China’s territory”. With respect to cyber, this has been a serious discussion between myself and President Xi since we first met in Sunnylands.
“The President and President Xi will each give a toast”, says the White House schedule.
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China denies being involved, saying its a victim of cyber- espionage itself and opposes hacking.
