China's Xi seeks fresh diplomatic inroads with Asian leaders

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, unseen, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC summit, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand (Athit Perawongmetha/Pool Photo via AP)

BANGKOK, Dec 19 (AP): Chinese President Xi Jinping has used his first face-to-face meetings with America’s Asia-Pacific allies since 2020 to try to forge diplomatic inroads as Washington pushes back against Beijing’s influence in the region.

Xi has not backed away from China’s longstanding claims to Taiwan and most of the South China Sea. But his comments to various leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Bangkok this week have focused more on Beijing’s pivotal economic role for its neighbors.