Incoming US Presidential Administration: Cooperative Leadership in Pressuring China

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.