Climate summit ‘may not change the forecast’ for US-China relations
- Chinese observers see only limited scope for the two countries to find common ground as they face off on multiple fronts
- Emphasis on competition with China during early stages of Joe Biden’s US presidency has maintained the enmity of the Donald Trump years, they argue
Expected to receive bipartisan support in the Senate, the bill includes amendments such as a boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics by US officials, and addresses competition with China by raising international development funding and working with allies and international organisations.
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Gloves off at top-level US-China summit in Alaska with on-camera sparring
Bilateral relations that deteriorated during Donald Trump’s presidency are in limbo after the first three months of Biden’s mixed approach.
The Biden administration has consistently characterised the relationship as a “competition” and the two countries have continued to jostle over trade, human rights, cybersecurity and a rules-based international order.
This is despite both sides saying they would seek areas of cooperation, including on climate change and nuclear proliferation, after high-level talks in Alaska last month.
Liu Weidong, a US affairs expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said he doubted there was much scope for cooperation even in areas the rivals had identified.