When Biden won the presidential election four years ago, Chinese netizens were confused. They felt that even though Trump had a tough stance on China, the US economy was doing well, so his loss was surprising. Biden, who had extensive contact with China from the Clinton to the Obama era, considered himself to have a good understanding of the country. However, from the Chinese perspective, he was a typical old-school American politician stuck in a Cold War mindset, seeing Russia as the Soviet Union.
Biden’s Russia Policy Gave China a Reprieve
Biden’s hostile policy toward Russia and his support for Ukraine against Russia forced Europe to sever ties with Moscow, pushing Russia into a corner. During this period, China escaped the immense pressure it faced during the Trump administration and gained some breathing room.
Biden’s Misjudgment of China’s Technological Strength
Biden is said to have severely misunderstood China’s technological capabilities, believing the country was still decades behind the US. He thought he could suppress China while simultaneously dealing with Russia. He didn’t realize that Russia could have been an ally and was key to defeating China. The text argues that whichever country, the US or China
China-Russia Relations and Missed US Opportunities
The article claims Russia does not value friendship over self-interest, and that the Chinese public’s animosity toward Russia is on par with that of the US. Even under Trump’s immense pressure, China was unwilling to form an alliance with Russia. However, under pressure from the US, Russia turned to China, allowing China to gain a reprieve at a small cost.
The text contends that the Chinese government made a grave error by insisting on its “dynamic zero-COVID” policy late in the pandemic. It suggests that if the US had bribed Russia to betray China and isolated China economically with its allies, China would have been in a desperate situation. Biden, however, is said to have missed this opportunity. Instead, he allegedly sought to secure more orders for arms dealers, fueled the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and encouraged Israel to fight in the Middle East. This, according to the text, allowed China to gain the support of the Islamic world and Russia for free, escaping a potential collapse.
The Impact of Biden’s Tech Suppression and US Election Speculations
The article states that the Biden administration’s technological suppression of China has not been effective. The author believes Biden failed to understand that China is a formidable opponent that needs to be contained and suppressed simultaneously across political, economic, military, and diplomatic fronts, and that relying on tech containment alone cannot defeat it.
The text concludes by speculating on the upcoming US election. After four years, despite a poor record, Biden is still running. If he were forced to withdraw, the Democratic party would have to rely on Kamala Harris, who the author claims lacks governing experience and often laughs inappropriately. If she were to win, China might become even more brazen in undermining US hegemony. Even if Trump returns to the White House, the text suggests he would struggle to fix the situation. The only viable option, according to the author, might be to follow Elon Musk’s advice: seek peaceful coexistence with China, giving it some space to survive in exchange for China’s acknowledgment of American hegemony.