US White House Responds to Xi Jinping's 'Multilateralism' with "Strategic Patience" (Comprehensive)

Xi Jinping's 'Win-Win' Proposal Declares "No Change in China Strategy"
Long-Term Conflict Anticipated... Diplomatic Pressure Expected to Increase Through Alliance Cooperation
Firm Tone Toward Russia... "Navalny Must Be Released Immediately, Unconditionally"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Biden administration has attracted global attention by announcing for the first time since its inauguration that it will approach its China policy with a "strategic patience" strategy. Strategic patience was a key strategy in the past Barack Obama administration’s North Korea policy and a long-term containment and pressure strategy through cooperation with allies, indicating that the Biden administration views the U.S.-China conflict itself as a long-term struggle.

According to foreign media including CNN on the 25th (local time), White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated at a press briefing held that day, "We are engaged in serious competition with China. China challenges the security, prosperity, and values of the United States, and we want to approach this with a certain strategic patience." This is the first time a concrete strategy regarding China policy has been mentioned since President Biden took office.

Psaki’s remarks came in response to a question about whether Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call for "multilateralism" in his keynote speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos Agenda virtual meeting earlier that day would influence the Biden administration’s China policy. In his keynote speech, President Xi emphasized multilateralism, targeting the U.S. by stating, "A new Cold War will only divide the world."

Psaki drew a line by saying, "President Xi’s remarks will not change the Biden administration’s China strategy," and brought up the term strategic patience. Strategic patience was a term used as a major principle in the Obama administration’s North Korea strategy, referring to a diplomatic strategy that restrains from military demonstrations or visible pressure while tightening the opponent over the long term through alliance cohesion and economic sanctions. Although the Biden administration had previously campaigned on a tough stance toward China during the U.S. presidential election, it had not yet presented a concrete blueprint. The use of this term is interpreted as an indication that the Biden administration intends to manage the U.S.-China conflict from a long-term perspective.

Separately from the strategic patience strategy, it is expected that the Biden administration will continue the tough trade policies against China established by the previous Donald Trump administration. Psaki emphasized, "President Biden believes we must hold China accountable for its unfair and illegal practices and ensure that American technology does not facilitate China’s military buildup," suggesting that the ongoing trade dispute with China will not change.

In contrast to this China policy, the administration did not hesitate to take a tough stance on Russia policy. Regarding the Russian authorities’ violent crackdown on protests against the arrest of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Psaki stated, "We urge the Russian government to immediately and unconditionally release Navalny and the protesters and to cooperate with an international investigation into Navalny’s poisoning." On the same day, the U.S. State Department also issued a statement calling for the immediate release of Navalny and the protesters.

The reason for the tougher tone toward Russia compared to China is interpreted as a strategy to restore cooperation with the EU through pressure on Russia and to strengthen the U.S.’s negotiating position ahead of talks on extending the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).

The European Union (EU) also held a meeting of foreign ministers from its 27 member states in Brussels on the same day to discuss the Navalny arrest issue. According to the Associated Press, Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, warned at the EU foreign ministers’ meeting, "We are concerned about the Russian authorities’ arrest of Navalny and the protesters," and added, "If the Russian authorities refuse to release them, we will discuss next steps."

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