Joe Biden shows willingness to confront China on climate during global summits

The US leader told a news conference at the end of his trip to Glasgow: 'We showed up, and by showing up we’ve had a profound impact on the way I think the rest of the world is looking at the United States in its leadership role'

US president Joe Biden boards Air Force One at Edinburgh Airport. Picture: AP

Over five days abroad at two global summits, US president Joe Biden has shown a new willingness to openly confront China over climate change and its lack of leadership on the global stage.

Mr Biden ended his time at the Cop26 UN climate summit in Glasgow on Tuesday by chastising Chinese president Xi Jinping for failing to appear at the event and not making the level of commitment shown by roughly 100 other nations to curb greenhouse gases.