Politico | Joe Biden’s new Cold War with China will result in climate collapse, progressives warn

More than 40 progressive groups will send a letter to US President Joe Biden and politicians on Thursday urging them to prioritise cooperation with China on climate change and curb its confrontational approach over issues such as Beijing’s crackdown on Hong Kong and forced detention of Uygur Muslims.

It's the latest salvo in the months-long drama between progressive Democrats who say cooperation on climate change should take precedence over competition with China, and moderates who think the administration can do both things at once. As the Biden administration solidifies its China strategy, and as anti-China legislation moves through Congress, this intra-Democratic tussle could define the US-China relationship for years to come.

The progressive organisations, including the Sunrise Movement and the Union of Concerned Scientists, “call on the Biden administration and all members of Congress to eschew the dominant antagonistic approach to US-China relations and instead prioritise multilateralism, diplomacy, and cooperation with China to address the existential threat that is the climate crisis,” their letter reads. “Nothing less than the future of our planet depends on ending the new Cold War between the United States and China.”