United States President Joe Biden has spoken with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, the fifth call of their presidencies, as the two leaders chart the future of their complicated relationship at a time of simmering economic and geopolitical tensions.The call, which lasted over two hours on Thursday, comes as Biden aims to find new ways to work with the rising global power as well as strategies to contain China’s influence around the world. Differing perspectives on global health, economic policy and human rights have long tested the relationship — with China’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine adding further strain.The latest pressure point has been US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s potential visit to Taiwan, the island that governs itself democratically and receives informal defensive support from the US, but which China considers part of its territory. Beijing has said it would view such a trip as a provocation, a threat US officials are taking with heightened seriousness in light of Russia’s incursion into Ukraine.
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