Joe Biden speaks with China’s Xi Jinping as tensions escalate

President Biden held his fifth conversation with China’s Xi Jinping on Thursday amid escalating tensions between the two countries over Taiwan, but the White House refused to say whether Biden would press him on the origins of COVID-19 or fentanyl smuggling.

The White House said the two leaders spoke for two hours and 17 minutes, with the call commencing at 8:33 a.m. and ending at 10:50 a.m. A readout from the US side was not immediately available.

At Wednesday’s news briefing, The Post asked White House spokesman John Kirby about whether the president would raise the issues with his Chinese counterpart. 

“On China, you just mentioned that President Biden intends to bring up South China Sea issues. I was wondering if we could also expect him to be bringing up issues regarding fentanyl exports from China and regarding the origins of COVID-19,” The Post asked Kirby.

“I think, as I said, there’s going to be a range of issues,” Kirby said. “We’ll give you a full readout after that call is over with.”