They want that meeting with China, it can't be more obvious. They want China's help on something, most likely for help with that economic crisis on the horizon or at least for China to not kick US while they're down. But instead of doing, as Xi would put it "create the right conditions" they have to keep the illusion that they are still speaking from a position of strength. That's why FMA wasn't impressed and didn't formally extend the invite to Blinken all this time.For the state of the union speech, Biden only briefly talk about China being more a economic competitor rather than some super hawkish tirade.
Problem is even if Whitehouse want to show some good will gesture their political system means the GOP will always get in their way and call them weak on China and Beijing Biden and so on. They've propagandized their own population into a corner. By keep saying "the free people of NATO have to help Ukraine win, or the dark lord Putin will cover the lands in a second darkness" and "we have to beat China or it will be the jackboot of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics on the face of humanity forever" you leave yourself with no option to backdown.