Opinion | Why Joe Biden’s celebration of America’s successful return is premature
- The US president has underestimated the complexities of outcompeting China and overestimated allies’ capacity to recommit to US leadership
- Moreover, Congress remains deadlocked, economic recovery is uncertain and Donald Trump could seek the presidency again in 2024
China loomed large in his speech. Not only did Biden return to his oft-repeated (and misleading) line about travelling 17,000 miles with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but he also expanded on their discussions since he took office in January.
“I told him, ‘We welcome the competition. We’re not looking for conflict’,” Biden said. “I told him what I’ve said to many world leaders: that America will not back away from our commitments – our commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms and to our alliances.”
This is not an entirely novel approach; even 10 years ago, when Biden was vice-president, then-president Barack Obama said the US needed to make domestic changes to meet the challenges of China’s economic rise. These recommendations went largely unheeded.