Facing up to dire issues face-to-face

If the Sino-US summit today is able to build a floor for the relationship between the two powers, this would be the best outcome to be expected from the meeting in Bali between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

The two leaders are going into their first in-person meeting as stronger presidents.

On one hand, Xi has risen as China's paramount leader after securing a historic third term during the Chinese Communist Party's 20th Congress, with a Politburo Standing Committee stacked with his loyalists.

A week ago, Xi also appeared on CCTV with a further title - Joint Commander-in-chief of the Military Commission - when asking the military to focus all their energy on fighting.

Meanwhile, Biden has been buoyed by the Democrats' unexpected success in the US midterm elections, with his party retaining control of at least the Senate. Control of the House of Representatives has not yet been decided.

The summit comes as the world is in a dire situation.

As Russia is quickly weakened by its own absurd war on Ukraine, only two major powers are left with immense influence on the world: the US as an existing superpower and China as a rising regional power with the potential to rival the US in global leadership.

Given the current state of conflicts, it would be naive to expect the two countries to be on good terms with each other immediately after today's meeting.

If they can build a floor so that their relationship will not crash further to result in direct military conflicts, this would be the best possible outcome right now. Then, efforts can be made to build future peace on this basis.

To avoid conflicts, it is necessary for both sides to know each other's bottom lines through direct communication rather than via intermediaries.

The summit is held as the world is in the midst of disruption, from Russia's war in Ukraine and US aggressive interest rate hikes to China's disruptive pandemic control measures.

Positively, there are signs of changes in all three areas.

First, Russia's war in Ukraine may be near an end with an imminent defeat for Moscow. Second, US interest rate hikes are predicted to be moderate after several rounds of aggressive increases. Third, China has announced new rules in respect of pandemic control.

With these developments, the US and China can focus on each other.

To avoid conflicts due to miscalculation, it is necessary for their top leaders to see each other in person to stress their so-called red lines - and this is what the summit is believed to be all about.

If no extra understanding is reached for each side to back down from the current high points of rivalry, it is probable that they will push the gambit near the limits.

Having said that, it would be tremendous if both sides, having battled so far, had become tired of fighting and convinced of a need to be connected with each other again.

Perhaps it is just wishful thinking, but this would be good for the world if this is the outcome of the Bali summit.