Biden-Xi signal opening to explore strategic stability talks

Following a November 2021 phone call between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping, the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) advocates for a shift in U.S. arms control policy toward a multilateral framework. The author suggests that progress with China can be achieved by focusing on 'strategic stability and risk reduction,' specifically proposing agreements to avoid arming cruise missiles with nuclear warheads, which would not require China to reduce its current arsenal.

• U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on November 15, 2021, to explore discussions regarding strategic stability and nuclear arms control.
• The author proposes that the U.S. should prioritize arms control measures that require China to agree not to develop new nuclear capabilities rather than requiring the removal of existing ones.
• A potential starting point for arms control is a nuclear-only agreement focused on cruise missiles, similar to the former Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which could involve the United States, China, and Russia agreeing not to arm such systems with nuclear warheads.
• The document suggests further stability measures including agreements on sea- and air-launched nuclear cruise missiles, limiting dual-capable systems, and establishing declarations of restraint regarding the roles of nuclear weapons.
• There is a growing bipartisan consensus in the U.S. that future arms control must move beyond the traditional bilateral U.S.-Russia paradigm to include more parties.

APA

Parthemore, C. (2021). Biden-Xi signal opening to explore strategic stability talks. The Council on Strategic Risks. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2021/11/18/biden-xi-signal-opening-to-explore-strategic-stability-talks/

Chicago

Parthemore, Christine. Biden-Xi signal opening to explore strategic stability talks. The Council on Strategic Risks, 2021. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2021/11/18/biden-xi-signal-opening-to-explore-strategic-stability-talks/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Parthemore |first1=Christine |title=Biden-Xi signal opening to explore strategic stability talks |publisher=The Council on Strategic Risks |date=18 November 2021 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2021/11/18/biden-xi-signal-opening-to-explore-strategic-stability-talks/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{parthemore2021bidenxi, author = {Parthemore, Christine}, title = {{Biden-Xi signal opening to explore strategic stability talks}}, publisher = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2021/11/18/biden-xi-signal-opening-to-explore-strategic-stability-talks/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }