China-US Dialogues in the Biden Administration
7 December 2020
An article by Brett Fortnam in Inside US Trade reports on a speech given today by China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the US-China Business Council. Based on this report, I believe that Minister Wang is giving good advice to the incoming Biden Administration as to how to US can restabilize its relationship with China at this "critical historical juncture." Wang states that China is "willing to work with other countries to build an open world economy" That's good news. In my own mind, after nearly four years of Trump, I wonder whether the United States is willing to work with China to build an open world economy.
Wang properly criticizes what he sees as the US position of viewing China from a "zero-sum game perspective" and regarding "China as an opponent or even an enemy." Again, Wang scores a bulls-eye. Making a constructive suggestion, Wang proposes that the US and China "should open dialogues at all levels" on issues like responding to the pandemic, climate change, and "cooperation in the economic and trade fields."
I hope that the Biden Administration will take Wang's advice and respond positively, on or after January 20, to seek to start dialogues between the United States and China. The one suggestion I would make to China and to the United States is to initiate new dialogues not just among governmental leaders of both countries but also among nonstate groups including civic society and business. To the extent that the genuineness of China's nonstate participation is questionable, I say that seeds will sprout when planted in fertile soil and given sunlight. As I have long maintained, the United States should not hesitate to engage China on vital issues beyond the economy and the environment such as adherence to internationally recognized human rights. I note both China and the United States are on common ground as non-parties to the Freedom of Association Convention (No. 87) of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Why not engage in dialogue about how both countries could come on-board?
