Biden’s policy towards China: the prospects for transatlantic dialogue. OSW Commentary Number 363 13.11.2020.

Jakóbowski, Jakub (2020) Biden’s policy towards China: the prospects for transatlantic dialogue. OSW Commentary Number 363 13.11.2020. UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

Joe Biden’s victory in the US presidential election means that Washington will continue its confron- tational policy towards Beijing. At the same time, it will clearly change its tactics and attempt to mobilise the US’s network of alliances to contain China. On 13 November, China congratulated Biden and Kamala Harris, but highlighted the need to resolve possible legal disputes. The expected change in the US administration has been widely commented upon in the Chinese press. The initial reac- tions from China reveal expectations that competition with Washington will continue in almost all key areas, although Beijing hopes to unblock some channels for diplomatic contacts. It also expects an extensive US-EU dialogue to begin discussing what actions should be taken with regard to the PRC. The first reactions from Europe suggest that this scenario is very likely. Biden’s victory has been presented as an opportunity for a joint response to the challenges linked to China by Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister, and some representatives of Brussels. However, creating a common front on Beijing will require a number of structural problems in transatlantic relations to be resolved, including in the areas of trade and services, digital technologies and security.

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