The US and China's relationship took a significant hit, especially after the COVID 19 eruption. Under President Trump's administration, the two nation's relations faced a tumultuous time. Trump's tariffs ban on China's $360 Billion worth of goods made the two countries further sever ties. The outbreak of the COVID 19 from Wuhan, China, didn't help the situation. Well, the new administration has much work to rebuild the ties.
President Biden's government has a promising outlook on repairing this relationship. Biden's Climate Change envoy John Kerry has stated that the US and China's cooperation remain one of the President's primary goals. The new administration has assumed office and will now deal with a cold war between the US and China; repairing this relationship may not be easy.
The Trump government's leniency on the tariff ban was a crucial instrument that defined the Sino-US relationship. President Biden could do away with the tariff bans, but this might come at an expense-he might be seen as too lenient on China. Under Trump's administration, many American's perceptions of China significantly changed. Further, China itself increasingly became anti-American.
Since the outbreak of COVID 19, China has been reluctant to share information about the virus's outbreak. This secrecy did not go down well with the Trump administration. As a result, Trump withdrew funding from the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the government, this withdrawal was caused by the feeling that WHO was being lenient to China regarding the latter's handling of the pandemic. The withdrawal further made US-China ties to become unfavorable. It's, therefore, imperative for Biden's administration to repair this conflict between the US and WHO.
Over the years, China's economy has emerged to become one of the world's largest. Today, it's the world's fastest-growing economy, with a growth rate of over 9% in thirty years. Many businesses worldwide have established their production lines and factories in China; this has made the country an economic superpower. The US has noticed China's rising power; this will continue to be a significant factor in the two countries' relationship into the future.
Think of President Trump's Huawei ban; this was a crucial aspect that will determine future US-China relations. The Trump administration banned the Chinese Huawei Company in May 2019 on accusations of using its smartphones to spy on other countries. This ban sparked a conversation on how China may have been using Huawei to spy on Americans. Even if there was no proof, the ban remains a crucial element in US-China relations beyond 2020. Since Trump has left office, it will be interesting to see how President Biden's administration approaches this and other issues. Of course, even as Huawei pushes for talks with Biden's administration, it will undoubtedly benefit both countries to develop a workable solution for this dispute.
In February 2021, President Biden's phone call with China's President XI Jinping signified a step in the right direction in this slow brewing conflict. Biden raised concerns about China's unfair economic undertakings. Also, he spoke about China's human rights abuse in Xinjiang. Biden's unwavering stance during the conversation underscored the US' conviction on its strict policies on China.
On the other hand, The Global Times, a Chinese newspaper, provided a different stance. The newspaper expressed the strategic implications the US might face if it continued with its tough stance on China, as signified by the call. The two countries are not backing down from this conflict, but the good news is that President Biden and Xi Jinping have begun a dialogue; this is certainly essential.
As the year progresses, experts are optimistic that US-China relations will improve. President Biden may not use his predecessor's aggressive stance, but it does not mean he'll allow China to have the upper hand against the US. In fact, the ban on China's tariffs might be used for strategic purposes by the new administration. The new President might use it to renegotiate terms of trade between the two countries. Biden's administration has clearly expressed how the tariff ban was flawed, and this will be the basis of the renegotiations with China in the future.
Further, the Chinese government's treatment of the Uighur people has become a bone of contention in US-China relations. The US State Department even expressed its concerns on China's treatment of the Uighur community, a minority in China. President Biden's administration will have to factor in these genocide reports from China, even as the two countries try to repair their stormy relationship. Overall, the Sino-US future relationship seems bright.