[Correspondent Column] Biden's Approach to China vs Xi Jinping's Engagement with the United States

The 'G2' Leaders Meeting After 9 Years... Bonds from Their Time as Number Twos

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] On the 20th (local time), Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States, will officially be inaugurated. With the launch of the Biden administration, US-China relations and the international order have reached a turning point. US-China relations, which began with trade disputes, expanded into conflicts, and last year reached their worst, even giving rise to the term 'new Cold War.' The whole world is on high alert to see what changes will come to the Cold War structure between the two countries after Biden's inauguration. China, the party involved, feels the same.

The composition of Biden's cabinet offers a glimpse into the future US-China relationship structure. President-elect Biden has nominated Tony Blinken (59), former Deputy Secretary of State, as Secretary of State, who will stand at the forefront of US diplomacy. Nominee Blinken is a diplomatic and security expert who has worked closely with Biden for nearly 20 years. Jake Sullivan (45), former advisor to the Vice President, was appointed as White House National Security Advisor; Avril Haines (52), former Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), as Director of National Intelligence; Kurt Campbell (64), former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, as White House National Security Council Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific; and Catherine Tai (46), an attorney, as US Trade Representative (USTR).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The first Secretary of State under the Donald Trump administration was Rex Tillerson, former CEO of ExxonMobil, who had little connection to diplomacy or security. Current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also a non-diplomat, having graduated from the US Military Academy, then serving as a lawyer, congressman, and CIA Director. Michael Flynn, the first National Security Advisor, was also from the military.

Unlike President Trump, who formed his initial diplomatic line mainly from military and business backgrounds, President-elect Biden has put forward diplomatic figures with rich practical experience.

Also, unlike Trump, who formed a cabinet centered on older white males, Biden has appointed many people of color and women. The diversity of Biden's appointments reflects American democratic society as it is.

Chinese government-affiliated scholars met privately and unanimously said that with President Trump's failure to win re-election, "uncertainty has disappeared." This was an indirect expression of dissatisfaction with President Trump's macho temperament, which was unpredictable. At the same time, they praised President-elect Biden as rational and well-informed about China. There is an expectation that logical and reasonable dialogue will be possible.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This is true. President-elect Biden knows China very well. Biden entered politics in 1972 when he was elected as the youngest federal senator from Delaware. He served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and twice as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 2001 to 2002 and 2007 to 2008. From 2009, he served as Vice President of the United States for eight years. Foreign affairs were his responsibility during the Obama administration.

Biden is a person who has directly or indirectly experienced past Chinese leaders such as Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao, and is a living witness to both China's past and present. He is fundamentally different from President Trump, whom China experienced over the past four years.

He also has a connection with President Xi Jinping. In 2011, when Biden was Vice President, he met Xi, who was then Vice President. Vice President Xi personally received Vice President Biden during his visit to China. In 2012, Vice President Biden guided Vice President Xi during his visit to the United States.

The two men who met as second-in-commands will now face each other as the top leaders. It has been nine years. From President Xi's perspective, President-elect Biden is a much more difficult counterpart than President Trump.

President-elect Biden will also meet a very different President Xi. Nine years ago, China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was only 30% of the US's, but now it reaches 70%. President Xi will not be easily led around. The whole world is focused on when, where, and on what agenda the leaders of the 'G2' will meet.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.