Those who believed that the USA would finally relativise its hegemonic claims under the new president Joe Biden, or even give them up, are likely to be dismayed once again. It is not the wolf that is shedding its sheep’s clothing, but the sheep continues to show its teeth. Of course, the USA and the rest of the world are increasingly seeing the emergence of a self-confident new power. It is China that is setting out to implement its own ideas of a new world economic order. But the question is how to deal with it? BVDSI has always advocated making cooperative offers at eye level. Why is this still being ignored? Confrontation only leads to a stagnation in the search for solutions and inspires power fantasies on all sides.
Why is Europe, and here in particular German foreign policy, represented by our esteemed Foreign Minister Heiko Maß, unable to set an example and draw attention to its own formative power? Why do we always freeze before the destructive power politics of the USA instead of formulating our own, bridge-building path? The US needs Europe and China just as much as Europe needs these global powers as partners. Let us not forget Russia. Nothing will work without this ancient cultural nation and its economic potential. The ecological challenges facing the world community should be enough of an argument to break free of the rigidity and look for fields where constructive movement is possible instead of insisting on our own claims, some of which really need to be questioned.
USA/China: Biden diplomatic in tone, US aggression mutated Only hopeful values for a sustainable improvement of the US-China relationship are misplaced. President Biden delivered diplomatic manners in his first phone call with Chinese leader Xi, but nothing more. Biden is said to have expressed concerns about China’s handling of Hong Kong, the situation in Xinjiang and increasing actions towards Taiwan.
We wonder if Xi was using the US’s striking democratic deficits, significant US racial and country discrimination, international rights violations by the US and encroachment on China’s sovereign rights (UN Charter) as well as provocative military games in the China Sea (not US sea) as an argument. Biden and Xi also exchanged views on the fight against the Corona pandemic, climate change challenges and the arms trade. The US is seeking open communication despite disagreements.
According to insiders under Biden, the USA wants to impose new targeted restrictions on sensitive technology exports to China in coordination with allies in the near future. The imposed punitive tariffs are to remain in place.
Conclusion: It is good that people are talking to each other and preserving diplomatic forms and not abandoning political formats. The US aggression against China is mutating, but it is still alive and kicking.