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Opinion | Why US-China relations will be poorer for Branstad’s exit as China ambassador
- The departure of Branstad, whose ties with Xi Jinping go back to the 1980s, may signal the end of personal diplomacy. And, with US-China relations cooling, his successor is likely to hold more hawkish views
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US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad announced last week that he would resign from his position and return to the United States in October. It is unclear exactly why Branstad is leaving. There are rumours he may be taking an active role in the Trump re-election campaign, though it remains to be seen how effective he could be as the presidential race enters its last stage and many Americans have already begun filling out their ballots.
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Others have pointed to a recent editorial written by Branstad that was rejected by the Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily as evidence that Branstad has soured on China. Regardless of the justification, Branstad’s departure is a big blow to US-China relations and may be the end of the era for personal diplomacy as the bilateral relationship increasingly comes to be defined as a new cold war.
To appreciate why Branstad’s departure is so significant, it is necessary to look at why the former governor of Iowa was selected as ambassador. Branstad’s home state played a starring role in Xi Jinping’s narrative and his rise to power.
In 1985, Xi spent two weeks in the town of Muscatine, Iowa, as part of an agricultural delegation learning about pig farming techniques. In 2012, mere months before he was slated to take over the party leadership, Xi returned to the town.
According to Joe Biden, then the US vice-president, the return to Muscatine was suggested by Xi. He visited the same family that hosted him back in 1985 and heralded the impact this experience had on shaping his view of America and his future career.
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