Article Summary –
US President Joe Biden’s administration is being criticized for its approach towards international relations and potential global dominance. Biden rejoining the Paris Agreement and the US’ return to UNESCO, along with the formation of alliances like NATO, the US-Israel alliance, and the Aukus pact have been viewed as potential attempts at creating a bloc against China. The US stance on these matters, and comments from figures such as US ambassadors to China Nicholas Burns and Antony Blinken, have been interpreted as divisive and counterproductive, prompting questions about the effectiveness of old confrontational tactics amidst modern global challenges.
President Joe Biden’s First Day Actions and Climate Goals
President Joe Biden wasted no time in recommitting the United States to the Paris Agreement on his first day in office, clearly indicating his intent to tackle climate change. His climate envoy, John Kerry, promptly encouraged China to enhance its emissions targets. Furthermore, the US officially came back to Unesco in July, six years after its withdrawal, signalling a desire to contest China’s influence.
US Involvement in Multilateral Systems
Most states are already participating in these multilateral systems, rendering the warning to either be at the table or risk being on the menu redundant. The “table in the international system” must signify the return to bloc confrontation, filled with “voluntary alliances and partnerships” like Nato in Europe, the US-Israel alliance in the Middle East, or the Aukus pact and Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) in the Asia-Pacific.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Historical Tactics
But are these old strategies the remedy for today’s global turbulence? Why hasn’t Nato, the most powerful military alliance on earth, been able to stop the war in Ukraine despite Russia’s diminished strength? Why hasn’t the US-Israel alliance halted Hamas’s fight for a better Palestinian future despite its military supremacy?
Risk and Reward Associated with Aukus and Quad Alliances
Similarly, is it worth jeopardising one’s safety in the hope that the Aukus and Quad alliances could prevent a rising China from safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly concerning Taiwan?
US- China Relations
Last month, US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns stated that “we don’t want to live in a world where the Chinese are the dominant country,” a sentiment that can be construed as divisive. Burns, who has been living in Beijing since March 2022, appears to be expressing prevalent US public sentiment towards China.
US Power and Influence
Despite China’s long history as a leading global economy, Burns’ experience has been largely shaped by US supremacy. He believes, along with many Americans, that US power can bring about significant change.
Concerns Over Chinese Cars
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlighted the potential risk of Chinese vehicles gathering data on Americans and potentially disabling them remotely, likening modern cars to “an iPhone on wheels”. These concerns reflect how American politics, both foreign and domestic, can be perceived as divisive and counterproductive.
US Foreign Policy
In a recent US State Department briefing, spokesman Matthew Miller defended the US’s lack of intervention in Israeli policies, stating that the United States does not dictate to any country what it must do. This was met with a sarcastic comment from a reporter, highlighting the controversial nature of US foreign policy.
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