Douglas H. Paal

Opinion | Domestic politics is driving US and China to seek a ‘time out’ amid rising tensions

Agreements reached on a host of contentious issues, before and after the Xi-Biden summit, were made possible by the need for both leaders to focus on domestic challenges

Renewed engagement is especially timely between the two militaries, in light of US anxiety over Chinese advances in space and cyber technologies

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Douglas H. Paal

Published: 1:30am, 9 Dec 2021Updated: 4:27am, 9 Dec 2021

In the days preceding and following the virtual summit between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November, modest agreements were reached between lower-level officials to deal with practical issues. These were in contrast with the belligerent tone both sides took in March at the meeting of senior officials in Anchorage, Alaska.

What happened between March and November? American officials are quick to assert that Beijing had viewed the incoming Biden administration as a return to Obama-era policy, and needed to be disabused that Washington would be cajoled into dropping Trump-era policies. They view the change in tone and cooperation from Beijing as a result of their initial tough stance.

Normally, after recording minor advances between troubled powers, such outcomes have a thousand fathers, all proudly providing background information to favoured columnists with stories of their achievements. But not this time, when claiming progress might invite partisan allegations of softness on China.

Chinese officials take a different view, unsurprisingly, and believe their uncompromising positions and rhetoric in Anchorage and at subsequent meetings caused the US to climb down from its posture of demanding to deal with China from a “position of strength”.

They believe the US softened its rhetoric and restrained its behaviour because the alternative was not working. They internally take credit for standing up to America.