europe.chinadaily.com.cn
Biden Administration Bolsters Alliances to Counter China
The Biden administration is actively strengthening its international alliances, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, to counter China's growing influence before the next presidential term. This strategy includes high-level diplomatic visits to Asia and Europe, but it also faces criticism for its hypocrisy and potential harm to US interests.
- What is the Biden administration's primary foreign policy objective regarding China and its allies in the remaining months of its term?
- The Biden administration, nearing the end of its term, is actively working to solidify its Indo-Pacific partnerships while maintaining its transatlantic alliances. This effort aims to prevent a power vacuum that could be exploited by adversaries, particularly China, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Recent high-level visits to key countries in Asia and Europe underscore this strategy.
- How does the Biden administration's portrayal of China influence its relationships with European nations, and what are the potential consequences of this approach?
- The administration's approach involves portraying China as a threat to global stability, leveraging this narrative to garner support from European nations and maintain pressure on China's economic and technological advancements. This strategy, however, is criticized for its hypocrisy and potential for harming US interests through creating unnecessary conflict and tension.
- What are the potential long-term implications of the current US strategy towards China, and how might a change in US administration alter the trajectory of US-China relations?
- The success of this strategy hinges on the next US administration's approach to China. Continued antagonism risks further straining relations and harming US interests, while a shift towards cooperation could yield mutual benefits. China's stated willingness to cooperate regardless of US domestic politics suggests a path toward improved relations.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the Biden administration's actions as primarily focused on containing China, portraying China as the main threat. Headlines and subheadings emphasize the US's attempts to build alliances against China and the alleged effectiveness of portraying China as an enabler of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This framing ignores alternative perspectives on China's role in global affairs and focuses on negative aspects of China's actions.
Language Bias
The article uses charged language to describe US actions, such as 'scaremongering', 'brazenness', and 'hypocrisy'. The term 'bad actor' is used to describe potential alternative alliances. The author uses phrases like 'painstakingly engineered' and 'castle built on sand' to convey a negative view of US foreign policy. Neutral alternatives might include 'efforts to build alliances', 'attempts to influence alliances', 'foreign policy initiatives', and descriptions that focus on observable actions rather than drawing conclusions about intent.
Bias by Omission
The analysis omits discussion of potential benefits from US-China cooperation and focuses heavily on negative aspects of China's actions and policies. Positive developments in China-India relations are mentioned only to highlight US attempts to disrupt them. The suffering of Palestinians in Gaza is mentioned in contrast to US concerns about Xinjiang, highlighting a perceived double standard but omitting broader geopolitical context or nuance regarding US foreign policy priorities in the Middle East.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a false dichotomy by framing the choice as either supporting the US's anti-China policy or being a 'bad actor' aligned with China. This ignores the possibility of neutral stances or alternative approaches to international relations. Additionally, the narrative implies that either the US is benefiting tremendously from the Ukraine crisis or that no one is benefiting. The possibility that other nations might be experiencing impacts, both positive or negative, is not explored.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the Biden administration's foreign policy focused on containing China, creating geopolitical tensions and potentially undermining international cooperation. This approach, characterized by sanctions, scaremongering, and the creation of alliances based on perceived common interests rather than genuine cooperation, could negatively impact global peace and stability. The actions described may exacerbate existing conflicts or create new ones, hindering efforts towards peaceful conflict resolution and undermining international institutions.