Opinion | Joe Biden’s still evolving China policy is a tough balancing act

US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had their first telephone conversation on February 10. It is evident that while their phone engagement was expansive (two hours) and courteous, there is no radical change in US policy towards China.

The White House statement noted that Biden reiterated the US’ commitment to “preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific”. This was evident in US naval deployment – two US aircraft carrier groups conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea on February 9, described as a demonstration of the “US Navy’s ability to operate in challenging environments”, thereby upholding the principle of freedom of navigation.

The nuanced messaging was also embedded at the end of White House statement, which said: “President Biden committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies.” This was similar to what Biden said in his first major speech at the US State Department on February 4.

Whether the Biden team will make major changes to Trump’s policy on China was the subject of considerable speculation, but continuity has been signalled. In his February 4 speech, Biden asserted that: “American leadership must meet this new moment of advancing authoritarianism, including the growing ambitions of China to rival the United States.”