Weak Waist Seen Through? The Biden Administration’s “Big Sweet” China Policy Revealed by Secretary of State Blinken During His Visit to China
(Heart of the story) The US Republican Party and others are fiercely criticizing the Joe Biden (Democratic Party) administration’s attitude toward China. China’s sprawl and recklessness are clear, such as the Chinese military’s “abnormal approach” to US military ships and aircraft in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, and reports of negotiations over the construction of military facilities in Cuba, which is close to the US state of Florida, does not see a resolute diplomatic attitude. During Secretary of State Anthony Brinken’s visit to China (18-19), he was made to feel the humiliation of being forced to sit in a meeting with President Xi Jinping. Are our allies okay? Journalist Yukihiro Hasegawa reports on the “great sweetness” of the Biden administration. ◇ State Secretary Brinken visited China and met with General Secretary Xi (Chairman), Politburo member Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang. Brinken opposed China’s attempts to change the status quo in Taiwan and the South and East China Seas, but said he would “seek cooperation on common issues of common interest.” Frankly speaking, this is lukewarm and lukewarm. The Biden administration does not seem to have learned the lesson of the “failed turnout policy” from him. Such a position is shown in the policy of denying “decoupling” with China and aiming at “de-risking” (avoiding risks). “There is a big difference between the two. Stopping all trade and investment with China through decoupling would be disastrous. We are all for risk aversion and diversification,” said Mr. The term derisking was first used by the President of the European Union (EU), Ursula von der Leyen, in a speech in March. Then National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen took advantage of it and began using it in their speeches. Mr. Blinken’s comments show the fact that “deli king” has become the official China policy of the Biden administration. Mr. von der Leyen must be in the mood to “do it”. The essence of the problem is shown in the fact that it was the EU that raised it in the first place. Europe, which is not afraid of being invaded by China, would like to maintain a mutually beneficial economic relationship with China if possible. Believing that Europe would be negatively affected if the United States cut economic ties with China entirely, he appealed to the United States, saying, “At the very least, cut only the areas that pose security risks.” In a speech in April, Sullivan said that areas directly linked to national security, such as semiconductors, would be confined to a “narrow courtyard surrounded by a high wall.” In other words, it is the same as saying: “In other fields, trade and investment are possible as before.” This raises the question of whether it’s possible to draw a clear line between products that pose a security risk and products that don’t pose a security risk, even in US rice fields. Semiconductors were supposed to Sensitive condescending Xi, who appeared at his “top seat” reception, were confined to a “little garden”, but could have leaked out and flowed into China. Conversely, if everything is confined, there is also the question of how it differs from decoupling. Influential Republican lawmakers have already criticized Blinken’s visit to China. For example, China hawk Elise Stefanik accused the Biden administration of emboldening the Chinese Communist Party. Representative Michael McCall has asked Mr. Blinken to submit a list of China’s sanctions actions within a limited period of time. China’s arrogance was also reflected in Mr. Xi’s attitude of sitting on the seat of honor and looking down on Mr. Blinken. I worry that the Biden administration’s leniency will end up overplaying Mr. Xi. ■Yukihiro Hasegawa Journalist. Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1953. He completed Keio University Graduate School of Economics, Johns Hopkins University Graduate School (SAIS). He has a reputation for his comments based on original information on topics of politics, economics, diplomacy and security. He has also held public office, including as a member of the government’s Regulatory Reform Council. He received the Shichihei Yamamoto Award for his book “Japan’s True Identity: Politicians, Bureaucrats, and the Media: Who Is the Real Power?” (Kodansha). The “Yukihiro Hasegawa and Yoichi Takahashi NEWS channel” is being distributed on YouTube.
