Letters | China should hope for the best, prepare for the worst from Joe Biden

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Then-US vice-president Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping toast during a state diner for China hosted at the Department of State in Washington on September 25, 2015. Biden expressed concerns to Xi about human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang on February 10 in their first call since Biden took office on January 20, according to the White House. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:30am, 24 Feb 2021Updated: 12:30am, 24 Feb 2021

Our American friends made a sensible choice for themselves and the world with their votes and returned to the rule of social justice and sanity. US President Joe Biden quickly voided some of his predecessor Donald Trump’s harmful decisions, such as withdrawing the country from the Paris climate accord.

However, Biden seems to be resorting to some of Trump’s old tactics in Sino-US diplomacy (“US-China tensions: Joe Biden signals tougher line on Beijing with key appointments”, February 21). For example, he raised concerns with President Xi Jinping about China’s actions in Hong Kong and Xinjiang and warned of “repercussions” on human rights abuses. This raises questions about whether there is hope for an improvement in Sino-US relations.

My answer: let’s be patient and optimistic, yet prudent. What factors deter Biden from improving the US relationship with China?

Historically, all US governments, regardless of party, have a strong desire to maintain the country’s worldwide dominance. This has caused conflicts with other major countries like the former Soviet Union and now China.

Also, although the Trump administration is no more, its political influence continues. Despite Trump’s role in January’s attack on the US Capitol, he was not convicted of the impeachment charges against him thanks to loyal Republican senators. Biden cannot ignore conservatives on Sino-US policy.

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Nevertheless, we have good reasons to be optimistic about Sino-US relations. Unlike his predecessor, Biden appreciates the benefits of cooperation with other countries, which is evident in his decision to return to the Paris accord and resume negotiations with Iran. We can expect him to also be wise enough to understand the importance of Sino-US cooperation on important affairs such as the Korean peninsula.