It's clear who has the upper hand between US and China – and it’s not Biden, says GRANDE

Joe Biden quoting Ronald Reagan does not make him Reaganesque. Far from it. At the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco on Wednesday, Biden closed the meeting by saying, “Trust but verify, as the old saying goes. That’s where I am.”

He didn’t mention it was Ronald Reagan who said that, in Russian, to then Soviet leader Mikhal Gorbachev. Maybe he didn’t know. Doveryai, no proveryai or, ”trust, but verify,” is a Russian proverb made famous by President Ronald Reagan, who used it on several occasions during nuclear disarmament discussions with the Soviet Union.

The concept of trust-but-verify encourages an environment of mutual understanding and goodwill, while simultaneously demanding a level of accountability. It’s a delicate balance – one that Ronald Reagan believed was most effectively achieved in person.

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Face-to-face diplomacy was essential to Reagan. He believed there was nothing that couldn’t be solved when two people sat down face to face and talked to each other – not just about each other. Joe Biden echoed the importance of face-to-face diplomacy with Xi as well.

Yet even though President Biden is quoting Reagan and espousing one of his core tenets, it doesn’t carry the same weight as it did under President Reagan. Why? Because Ronald Reagan’s actions reinforced his words. When Reagan said something, the world listened. And knew it would happen because Reagan was a man of his word.

President Biden, on the other hand, says one thing, then another. He stands firm – until he softens. He is unwavering – until he wavers. And is emphatic in his position – until polling indicates he should change his mind. Then he does. He says he doesn’t want conflict – just competition. I’m not sure China shares his thinking.

The weakness and insincerity of this president not only is embarrassing, but is dangerous. For anyone who has recently seen President Biden struggle to even read pre-written scripted remarks on the teleprompter, we can’t fathom how he stayed awake for a four-hour meeting with President Xi, let alone how he could have led that meeting with American strength and confidence, advocating for the nation’s best interests.

Remember when Putin cozied up to Biden right before he invaded Ukraine? They exchanged expensive gifts, agreed in principle to meet again – just months before the invasion occurred. So much for Biden providing effective deterrence. I wonder if Xi is similarly cozying up to Biden before he takes action on Taiwan.

During this week’s Biden-Xi meeting, there were several topics discussed – including Biden asking Xi to stop the production of fentanyl. Biden seemed pleased Xi agreed to “dramatically curtail” the creation of precursors to fentanyl, yet Biden needs to be reminded that Xi has made this promise twice before. To no avail.

The two leaders also discussed re-engaging military-to-military communication between the two nations, but China has yet to name a counterpart to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, indicating this is not a top priority to Xi.

Biden briefly raised artificial intelligence, but it was decided they weren’t ready to have policy discussions about it or make a “declaration or some sort of framing” and that such an action will take more serious interactions. It was important enough to Biden to raise the topic, but it was hastily dismissed by China.

And, of course, no meeting would be complete without the obligatory lecture on climate change - while China builds two new coal fire plants each week. Biden continues to state this is the existential threat of our time. I bet the people of Israel disagree. As do the people of Ukraine.

So the topics Biden raised, which were important to him, were dismissed or brushed aside by Xi. It is clear who has the upper hand – and it’s not Joe Biden.

But it’s not just what Biden and Xi discussed that raises concern, but what they didn’t discuss.

President Biden didn’t talk about Covid and its origins and China’s responsibility for unleashing a pandemic which killed tens of millions of people worldwide.

He didn’t talk about the Chinese spy balloon which traversed the nation untouched and unstopped by the Biden administration until after it had completed its surveillance.

They didn’t discuss Taiwan and concerns over China wanting to “reunify”. The two leaders didn’t talk about China’s nuclear arsenal.

Or about the Chinese hacker who accessed more than 60,000 emails from the State Department.

Biden didn’t mention the hundreds of thousands of dollars he and his family have received from Chinese interests.

And Biden certainly didn’t highlight it, but I’m sure Xi noticed as he drove through the city, that the homeless had been removed from the sidewalks and everything looked clean. I’m sure the residents of San Francisco are frustrated to see that it can be cleaned up overnight – but not for them – only for the leader of China.

Of course Biden didn’t use his often-stated phrase that “walls don’t work” when he talks about the southern border.

Because not only last week did the White House fence keep the pro-Palestinian protestors out of the White House grounds, but in San Francisco, metal fencing lined the streets where Xi drove. If walls don’t work we have to wonder why both leaders like walls around themselves?

So Joe Biden can quote Ronald Reagan all he wants, but will never be a communicator, or a leader, like Reagan, if his actions don’t match his words – and if his words don’t confront the most pressing issues that need addressing.

Peggy Grande was executive assistant to Ronald Reagan and is author of “The President Will See You Now.” She was Chair of World for Brexit and served as a political appointee in the Trump Administration. Peggy serves on the Board of Pepperdine School of Public Policy, and the Board of The Center for American Ideas.