Biden Warns Xi Jinping ‘We’d Be More Up In The Face Of China’ Because Of Kim Jong Un’s Nuclear Test

President Joe Biden told his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, during one of their most anticipated meetings that Beijing is obliged to attempt to talk North Korea out of conducting its seventh nuclear test.

What Happened: Biden and Xi held talks for three hours, discussing Taiwan and North Korea on Monday on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia.

At a press conference after the meeting, Biden said he warned Xi that the U.S. would take every step to defend itself and its allies, which could be more up in the face of China though not directed against it.

See Also: Xi Jinping-Controlled Government Orders Probe As Hong Kong Freedom Song Replaces Chinas National Anthem At Rugby Match In South Korea

"We'd be more up in the face of China. But it wouldn't be because of China, it'd be because of what was going on in North Korea," he said.

Biden added that he was not certain whether China "can control" its neighbor and longtime ally from conducting a nuclear test, which the U.S. and its allies, South Korea and Japan, oppose.

"I'm confident China is not looking for North Korea to engage in further escalatory means," he added.

We would have to take certain actions that would be more defensive on our behalf to send a clear message to North Korea. We are going to defend our allies, as well as American soil and American capacity, Biden said.

International sanctions from the U.S. and the U.N. have failed to halt Kim Jong Un's growing weapons programs. Seoul and Washington have warned that Pyongyang has finished all technical preparations for a new test, which could take place soon.

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