The US-China rivalry is becoming a constant feature of world politics. An improvement of relations between the United States and China should not be expected soon, as evidenced by the first actions of the Biden administration. In America, a bipartisan consensus on China has taken shape, and Biden’s attempts to formalise accusations of genocide in Xinjiang and culpability in the spread of the coronavirus pandemic rule out normalisation. The United States is actively rallying its allies and partners, with Japan being the most important of them in Asia, to work together in the areas of security and economy in order to counter China’s challenge to the existing US-led order. Japan’s close alliance with the United States was reaffirmed at the Quad (Japan, US, Australia, India) summit meeting (online), Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (Japan-U.S “2＋2”), Japan-US summit meeting and the G7 summit meeting. As noted by Japanese experts, the United States is making it clear to China that a kind of coalition is being formed around it. Thus, the American president has held a number of summits with leaders of foreign states — but not with President Xi. In Japan, the toughening of American policy towards China is generally welcomed, as Beijing’s strengthening is perceived with concern. However, due to the immediate proximity of the two countries, direct confrontation (especially a military one) is seen as extremely undesirable.
Russia/Japan/East Asia. Moscow and Tokyo Exploring Pathways for East Asia in an Era of Growing US-China Rivalry (Taisuke Abiru, Anton Bespalov, Valdai Discussion Club)
Related articles
