Zhu Feng: The biggest uncertainty in Sino-US relations this year is that the Biden administration has not yet made this clear

Source: Global Times - Global Network

The 2022 Global Times Annual Conference with the theme of "The World Is Looking for a Turnaround and China Breaks the Waves" was held in Beijing on the 11th. During the discussion on "Where is the Next Conflict Point and Détente Point in Sino-US Relations?", Zhu Feng, dean of the School of International Relations of Nanjing University, talked about his three basic views on Sino-US relations.

Zhu Feng Infographic

Zhu Feng said that Biden has been in power for nearly a year and is indeed trying to find what he calls an "effective China policy", but now he has encountered very big challenges and dilemmas. The fundamental reason lies in the political and military situation in the United States today, including the epidemic. In the case of such a huge influence and interference of US domestic politics on Biden's China policy, he is unwilling to "Trumpize" on the one hand, and on the other hand, he wants to use the tough China policy to obtain the highlights of the administration. So we do see that Biden's China policy is stretched thin.

Zhu Feng believes that the biggest issue in Sino-US relations today is also an issue that is being discussed in US political circles, including strategic circles, that is, how to define "strategic competition" with China. Because "strategic competition" can treat the opponent as a "strategic opponent" or as a "strategic enemy."

So the question arises: Biden is trying to find a so-called "balance", where China and the United States can compete strategically, but not strategically. But the problem is that today's debate in the US domestic political circles about China, as well as the US hegemonic consciousness of the various factions in the United States that are strongly aligned to "resist the challenge from China", make today's Biden China policy, no matter how it is positioned, is developing in an increasingly confrontational and conflicting direction. So now the trend is very clear, that is, although the Biden administration wants to be "stable", it is "unstable".

Zhu Feng finally said that the biggest uncertainty in Sino-US relations this year is that the Biden administration has so far been unable to determine in what way he should deal with China, a "strategic opponent". At present, the basic performance of US domestic policy, as well as the US policy inertia and hegemonic thinking, may continue to push the US China policy in the direction of "strategic enemy". We must guard against it, and we must effectively resolve it.