As with all of his insurance policies, Biden claims that his China technique has been a hit, whereas Kamala Harris guarantees extra of the identical.
But Joe’s China coverage has largely failed, exposing vital vulnerabilities that make the USA more and more susceptible to Beijing’s increasing financial, navy, and geopolitical energy.
Though the U.S. authorities claims to be taking robust measures to “make investments, align, and compete” with China, in actual fact, its actions are filled with contradictions and lack of execution, benefiting China however deepening U.S. dependence in key areas.
Biden’s inexperienced power push for electrical autos (EVs), photo voltaic panels and wind generators has backfired, benefiting China, which controls greater than 70% of world EV battery manufacturing and dominates photo voltaic and wind power.
Environmental laws require 60% of recent automobile gross sales to be electrical by 2030, growing the USA’ dependence on imported automobiles from China, strengthening Beijing’s management over inexperienced power, and making U.S. provide chains extra susceptible.
This shift has raised automobile and power prices, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income People. Restrictions on home oil and gasoline manufacturing additional drive up prices and enhance the danger of power dependence on China.
Partnerships between Chinese language corporations akin to CATL and U.S. corporations akin to Ford allow China to learn from U.S. tax incentives whereas retaining management of key applied sciences. If political tensions enhance, these partnerships may disrupt U.S. provide chains and pose critical nationwide safety dangers.
Administrative errors additionally allowed China to learn from U.S. mismanagement. Throughout her tenure as California’s labor secretary, present appearing Labor Secretary Julie Su oversaw one of many largest fraud scandals in U.S. historical past.
The state’s Employment Growth Division (EDD) has misplaced an estimated $32 billion to fraud throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with $26 billion stolen by worldwide felony networks, together with these related to the Chinese language state-sponsored hacking group Superior Persistent Risk 41 (APT) 41).
These funds are actually used to fund actions that threaten U.S. nationwide safety, akin to drug and human trafficking.
Regardless of these crucial missteps, Su has risen by way of the ranks within the Biden administration and now holds a key place within the federal authorities.
Inexplicably, a person who allowed billions of taxpayer {dollars} to fall into the arms of his enemies now bears better duty, additional proof of the administration’s unwillingness to face the true penalties of its actions.
On the navy entrance, Biden’s insurance policies are equally weak. Whereas China has quickly constructed up its navy capabilities and develop into more and more aggressive within the South China Sea and round Taiwan, the U.S. authorities has didn’t provoke a significant rearmament program.
China’s nuclear arsenal at present has greater than 500 fight warheads and continues to increase. As well as, Beijing has stepped up navy provocations close to Taiwan, with a whole lot of Chinese language navy plane and naval vessels threatening Taiwan.
These actions spotlight China’s rising willingness to problem the USA and its allies, however the U.S. authorities’s response has been inadequate.
Biden’s dealing with of Taiwan has added to the confusion. Regardless of repeatedly stating publicly that the USA would defend Taiwan if China invaded, senior White Home officers have repeatedly backtracked on his remarks, creating uncertainty about the USA’ dedication.
On the identical time, China’s navy has grown bolder, usually refusing diplomatic engagement with the USA whereas conducting aggressive maneuvers within the South China Sea. Biden’s requires a détente in diplomatic relations with Beijing have been met with inflammatory rhetoric from China, additional undermining U.S. credibility within the area.
From a geopolitical perspective, China’s affect continues to increase, and the Biden administration is struggling to maintain up. Regardless of worldwide condemnation of the warfare in Ukraine, China has continued to help Russia, demonstrating its willingness to flout international norms.
In 2023 alone, China despatched a whole lot of navy plane and naval ships to Taiwan, an indication of its rising perception that the USA is powerless to cease them.
As well as, incidents such because the floating of Chinese language spy balloons over the USA and studies that China is increasing its spy amenities in Cuba present that Beijing is more and more keen to problem the USA by itself turf.
The failures solid critical doubt on Biden’s assertions that his China coverage is profitable. Whereas the administration has continued some Trump-era insurance policies, akin to blacklisting Chinese language corporations that commit human rights abuses, these efforts have been undermined by conflicting actions.
For instance, throughout her go to to China final 12 months, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo inspired American corporations to proceed investing in China, regardless of the U.S. authorities’s perceived powerful stance.
Moreover, the federal government’s restrictions on semiconductor exports to China, one in every of its most touted insurance policies, have been poorly enforced. Stories present that regardless of restrictions, China nonetheless has entry to superior synthetic intelligence chips from corporations akin to Nvidia.
This lack of enforcement raises questions on whether or not the federal government is actually critical about competing with China on key applied sciences.
On commerce and navy, Biden’s insurance policies are equally spectacular. The administration missed vital alternatives to bolster U.S. navy capabilities, particularly within the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s aggressive stance towards Taiwan.
Whereas the U.S. authorities has strengthened alliances within the Indo-Pacific area by way of partnerships akin to AUKUS and the Quad, it has didn’t provoke the rearmament program essential to counter China’s rising navy energy.
China’s speedy navy buildup poses a critical menace, however the USA lags behind, particularly in defending Taiwan and sustaining a robust presence within the South China Sea.
Biden’s lack of a robust Asia commerce agenda compounds the issue. His administration launched the Indo-Pacific Financial Framework (IPEF), which pales compared to the Complete and Progressive Settlement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which China has utilized to affix.
And not using a robust commerce technique, the USA will steadily lose floor in Asia, leaving China to fill the vacuum and increase its affect.
In the end, the Biden administration’s China coverage is inconsistent, poorly applied, and fails to adequately tackle China’s rising affect. From power dependence to navy threats and financial vulnerability, the federal government leaves the USA susceptible. Kamala promised extra of the identical.
