Incoming US Presidential Administration: Cooperative Leadership in Pressuring China

Published in Sankei News
(Japan) on 25 November 2020
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Dorothy Phoenix. Edited by Elizabeth Cosgriff.
Democratic former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, winner of the U.S. presidential election, has started announcing his Cabinet and high officials who will be tasked with tackling issues such as foreign diplomacy, national security and the environment when the administration takes office next year on Jan. 20.

Former U.S. deputy secretary of state and close associate Antony Blinken has been nominated to be secretary of state, the cornerstone position in foreign policy. Jake Sullivan, former national security advisor to BIden when he was vice president, has been designated as the national security advisor in the new administration as well. These appointments, as well as those of other familiar faces that supported the diplomatic and security policies of the Obama-Biden administration, stand out. They appear to form a solid lineup.

Right now, the international community is worried about China's failure to follow international rules. The U.S. must act to put a stop to China's doctrine of expansion and its human rights violations, and must deal with economic issues.

We would like to see the incoming Biden administration lead a coalition of countries that value freedom and rule of law in pressuring China to change its behavior.

At the start of the Obama administration, the U.S. took a participatory approach to China, encouraging it to become a responsible member of the international community, but those hopes were betrayed. Afterward, the U.S. touted a shift in tactics toward an Asia-Pacific "rebalance" strategy; despite this attempt at a strategic comeback, without the needed foreign diplomacy and security actions to back it, the plan was unsuccessful.

Blinken has stated that China is "arguably the biggest challenge." Based on reconsideration of the Obama administration's China policy, we hope the U.S. will stand up to China.

President Donald Trump has boldly taken a confrontational attitude toward China. Although this stance is right in itself, the grandstanding and self-conceit in his approach are undeniable. The next administration must strengthen its links with its allies and face China.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry has been designated as the special presidential envoy for climate, a new post tackling the problem of climate change. One can see this appointment as an expression of Biden's ambition to act against global warming. Although global warming countermeasures are important, if the U.S. prioritizes cooperating with China in this effort while shutting its eyes to China's overbearing conduct in other areas such as human rights and national security, it will harm world peace and stability.

The task of transitioning power to the Biden administration has begun, now that Trump has finally conceded.* It has been noted that the complete absence of the U.S. from global leadership at the Group of 20 summit of industrial and emerging-market nations and other recent international conferences could, in contrast, invite China’s strong presence. We hope that the Biden Cabinet and major advisers in the incoming administration are prepared to launch a strong administration immediately.


*Editor’s note: To date, Trump has not formally conceded that Biden won the 2020 presidential election.



米次期政権人事 対中圧力への連携主導を

米大統領選で当選を確実とした民主党のバイデン前副大統領が、来年1月20日からの次期政権で外交・安全保障や地球環境問題を担う閣僚や高官の人事を発表した。

 外交の要である国務長官に側近のブリンケン元国務副長官を、国家安全保障問題担当の大統領補佐官に副大統領時代のバイデン氏の補佐官だったサリバン氏を起用するなど、オバマ-バイデン時代の外交・安保政策を支えた顔ぶれの再登用が目立つ。手堅い布陣の印象だ。

 国際社会は今、国際ルールをかえりみない中国の振る舞いに苦慮している。中国の拡張主義や人権弾圧、経済面での問題行動を止めるには米国の行動が必要だ。

 バイデン次期政権に求められるのは、自由や法の支配を重視する国々の先頭に立ち、中国に翻意を促すべく圧力をかけることだ。

 オバマ政権は当初、中国に関与政策をとり、国際社会の責任ある一員となるよう促したが、その期待は裏切られた。その後、戦略的重点をアジア太平洋に移す「リバランス(再均衡)」を掲げ、巻き返しを試みたものの、外交・安保上の行動が伴わず、成果を得なかった。

 ブリンケン氏は「中国が最大の課題」と述べている。オバマ政権の対中政策の反省を踏まえ、中国と対峙(たいじ)してもらいたい。
PR

 トランプ大統領は、中国に思い切った対決姿勢で臨んだ。それ自体は正しかったが、場当たり的だったり、独りよがりになったりした面は否めない。次期政権は同盟国との連携を強め、中国に向き合わなくてはならない。

 気候変動を担当する大統領特使を新設し、ケリー元国務長官を充てることになった。バイデン氏の地球温暖化対策への意欲の表れといえる。温暖化対策は重要だが、その分野の米中協力を優先させるあまり、人権や安全保障など他の多くの分野での中国の威圧的行動に目をつむっては世界の平和と安定が損なわれる。

 バイデン氏への政権移行作業が、トランプ氏の承認を受けてようやく始まった。20カ国・地域(G20)首脳会議(サミット)など最近の国際会議で浮き彫りになったのは、「米国の不在」は中国の存在感増大を招きかねないという点だ。次期政権の閣僚、高官は、強力な政権を直ちに発足させるべく準備を進めてほしい。
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