Comparing Biden's Approach to China with Trump's Approach
Biden's approach to China emphasizes leveraging American democracy as a counter to autocracy In his State of the Union address, he directly confronted President Xi Jinping, highlighting the need to challenge autocracies Topics include a new fentanyl deal, pursuing competition rather than conflict, complexities arising from support for Taiwan, over a year without military communication, and Trump's admiration for Xi
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Throughout his first term, President Joe Biden has consistently emphasized the importance of using American democracy as a means to counter autocratic regimes, including China. In his State of the Union address, Biden specifically named Chinese President Xi Jinping while criticizing autocracies.
"Can you think of any world leader willing to trade places with Xi Jinping? Can you name just one?" Biden asked, improvising during his February speech in the House chamber.
What about Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, who is relentlessly attempting to regain his position as a world leader?
Trump expressed his admiration for Xi's authoritarian power to prolong his presidency indefinitely. "Xi is now the president for life," remarked Trump during a speech to donors at Mar-a-Lago in 2018. "I find it impressive. Perhaps we should consider attempting that in the future."
A new fentanyl deal
Despite their differing rhetoric, it is noteworthy that there is a consistent thread connecting Trump's and Biden's China policies. Trump heightened US support for Taiwan, a stance that Biden has maintained. Additionally, Trump implemented tariffs on Chinese imports, which complicated the US-China relationship. Notably, Biden has opted to retain these tariffs.
The Biden administration is on the verge of finalizing a new agreement with China to address the issue of fentanyl exportation. This agreement aims to crack down on the exportation of fentanyl ingredients, known as precursors, which often pass through Mexico and cause devastating consequences in American communities.
Interestingly, the Trump administration had previously reached a similar agreement with China, designating fentanyl and its derivatives as controlled substances. This deal was made during a steak dinner shared by Trump and Xi in Buenos Aires, as reported by CNN. However, despite this previous agreement, fentanyl has continued to flow into the United States.
Seeking competition, not conflict
Scheduled to take place outside San Francisco on Wednesday, Biden's meeting with Xi is part of a larger gathering of Asia-Pacific nations. The primary objective of the four-hour discussion, as stated by the US president, is to restore normalcy in the relationship between the two nations. The aim is to establish open communication channels between them, ensuring that they can easily reach out to each other during times of crisis, and maintain regular contact between their respective military forces.
Thats a crucial objective, especially considering the current Ukraine-Russia conflict and Israel-Hamas war, which undermine the stability of the post-World War II international order. One of the primary justifications Biden has provided for backing Ukraine against Russia is to discourage non-European nations who are closely observing the situation.
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Sullivan: Restoring US-China military communication a 'top agenda item' for Biden-Xi summit
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Support for Taiwan complicates relationship with China
Biden has openly expressed his support for Taiwan, a democratic island that Beijing's Communist leadership has asserted its territorial claim over for a long time, even though they have never governed it.
Biden has consistently alluded to the possibility of providing military assistance in the event of a Chinese invasion, departing from the previous approach of strategic ambiguity, where the US granted support to Taiwan while attempting to avoid upsetting China on this matter.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping, left, and US President Joe Biden.
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Wooing business leaders and avoiding conflict: Whats on Xis agenda as the Chinese leader heads to California
During his presidency, Trump provided extensive support for Taiwan. However, there are indications that he might adopt a more strategically ambiguous stance in the future. In an interview on Fox News, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Taiwan, claiming that they had acquired all of America's chip business. Additionally, he refrained from specifying how the United States would protect Taiwan if it faced aggression from China.
Addressing the semiconductor matter holds significant importance domestically. In order to strengthen the US semiconductor industry and create new manufacturing employment opportunities, Biden has actively promoted the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act.
No military communication for more than a year
The support for Taiwan from both the Trump and Biden administrations has had a noticeable impact. As a response, the Chinese military opted to sever regular communication with their American counterparts in the wake of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022. Presently, the United States seeks to alleviate tensions and promote a more moderate approach.
"The competition between the US and China was highlighted by national security adviser Jake Sullivan during his interview with CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union" on Sunday. Sullivan emphasized President Biden's goal to handle this competition in a responsible manner, ensuring that it does not escalate into a conflict. He also stressed the significance of reestablishing communication channels between the two militaries as an important step."
Speaking is a pleasant activity, according to Josh Rogin, a columnist for The Washington Post, during an appearance on "CNN This Morning," but it does not constitute a significant breakthrough.
"When it comes to resolving the various issues in the relationship between the United States and China, such as China's economic aggression, military expansion, internal repression, and its conflicts with neighboring countries, including the participation of over 20 Asian nations in San Francisco, there has been no meaningful progress," Rogin remarked. "So, yes, engaging in dialogue is preferable to not engaging at all."
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Biden and Xi to meet on Wednesday
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China and the US, the two largest economies in the world, share a significant trade relationship that shows no signs of ending soon. As of 2022, China holds the position as the leading exporter to the US, while also maintaining its status as one of the top importers of US goods.
President Biden addressed this issue, emphasizing that the goal is not to completely separate from China but rather to improve and transform the existing relationship. In a statement to reporters on Tuesday, he stated, "Our objective is to bring about positive change in the relationship, not to decouple from China."
Trump envies Xi
Meanwhile, Trump consistently boasts about his personal connections with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un. While campaigning in New Hampshire, the previous president stated that if he were to win another term, he would possess the ability to prevent World War III—a claim that is impossible to substantiate and absurd.
At the campaign event, Trump praised President Xi of China for his firm control over 1.4 billion people in the country. Trump commended Xi's intelligence and even suggested that the US should learn from China's approach to justice, including quicker trials and more severe punishment, such as the death penalty, for drug dealers. However, it is worth noting that despite Trump's admiration, his inability to effectively address the issue of fentanyl originating from China is significant.
Instead of dwelling on the fact that Trump's death penalty proposition for drug dealers is not new and contradicts his own First Step Act, his significant bipartisan accomplishment that reduced sentences for certain drug traffickers, let us shift our attention to his enthusiastic admiration for Xi.
"President Xi embodies the ideal image, as if he is perfectly suited for the role of a leader. Hollywood lacks anyone capable of portraying President Xi, as his appearance, determination, and voice are unmatched," remarked Trump. He then imitated the Chinese leader, lowering his voice peculiarly, while stating, "We shall promptly commence negotiations."
Despite their contrasting approaches, both Trump and Biden value establishing personal connections, even with leaders they may disagree with. Biden will finally have the chance to engage in such interaction after a year, during this meeting near San Francisco.
Xi will be visiting the US for the first time since 2017, when Trump hosted him at Mar-a-Lago. The meeting was rather unusual, as Trump informed Xi about the US missile strikes in Syria while they were both enjoying chocolate cake.
