Early indicators suggest the Biden administration may continue to pursue a robust China strategy that reaches across multiple government departments and agencies.
Why it matters: Though the Trump administration's approach to China was often controversial, there is broad bipartisan agreement that China poses a major challenge to U.S. interests and values.
Biden's picks for China-related National Security Council positions so far include:
- Kurt Campbell — Indo-Pacific coordinator.
- Laura Rosenberger — senior China director.
- Rush Doshi — senior China director.
- Shanthi Kalathil — democracy and human rights coordinator.
- Tarun Chhabra — senior director for technology and national security.
Campbell is a veteran former State Department official whose position as Indo-Pacific coordinator, combined with his known aplomb in working through bureaucracy, suggests part of his mandate will include organizing China policy across different government departments.
- These choices have been popular among China watchers concerned about China's malign influence activities abroad — and at least one is already viewed with trepidation in Beijing:
Some consternation in Beijing about Biden naming Laura Rosenberger as NSC China director: LR criticized China's covid diplomacy and its touting its system of governance. "There's no difference from Trump admin in ideology, only methods" BJ Daily: https://t.co/BC4tPVBcHI
— Gerry Shih (@gerryshih) January 18, 2021
For a preview of how Biden's team might pursue a post-Trump China policy, read this recent Foreign Affairs article by Campbell and Doshi, called "How America can shore up Asian order." In the article, Campbell and Doshi prescribe:
- A balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.
- A regional order that Indo-Pacific states recognize as legitimate.
- A coalition to address China’s challenge to the above two.
Go deeper: Trump leaves Biden tough choices for his own China playbook
