On Oct. 24, a Chinese J-11 fighter jet recklessly maneuvered within 10 feet of a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber flying in international airspace over the South China Sea, endangering the crew of the American plane. There have been provocative Chinese intercepts of U.S. planes and vessels in the global commons for decades, but now the pace of the belligerent actions has increased.

What was the response of the Biden administration?

President Joe Biden has desperately tried to arrange a meeting with Chinese ruler Xi Jinping. They have finally agreed in principle to meet in mid-November in San Francisco during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The agreement came during the just-concluded visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Washington. Mr. Wang met with President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

President Biden meeting with Mr. Xi at this time would be a mistake. There’s nothing good that can come of this discussion.