US President-elect Joe Biden may take a strong stance towards China if he can't sort out domestic issues, says a Chinese government advisor.
United States (US) President-elect Joe Biden might take advantage of the American public's resentment towards China after he occupies the White House, said a Chinese government advisor.
Zheng Yongnian, who is the Dean of Shanghai-based think tank Advanced Institute of Global and Contemporary China Studies, cautioned that China must drop its illusion that its relations with the US will automatically improve and should be prepared for a tough stance from the Biden administration.
In an interview on the sidelines of the Understanding China Conference in Guangzhou recently, he said, "The good old days are over... the Cold War hawks in the US have been in a highly mobilised state for several years, and they will not disappear overnight."
Regarding Biden, he said, "American society is torn apart. I don't think Biden can do anything about it."
"He is certainly a very weak President, if he can't sort out domestic issues, then he will do something on the diplomatic front, do something against China. If we say Trump is not interested in promoting democracy and freedom, Biden is. (President Donald) Trump is not interested in war... but a Democratic President could start wars," added Zheng.
Zheng spoke on the bipartisan consensus on containing China that now exists in the US. Both Democrats and Republicans have brought up over 300 separate bills targeting China in the Congress. The most significant ones address China's stance in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
President Trump reluctantly signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was co-sponsored by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and Republican Marco Rubio.
The US-China relations have come under strain lately with conflicts arising in different areas including human rights, trade, and handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
China was a target of both the candidates in the run-up to the Presidential elections. Biden often took a tough call against China, even calling Chinese Premier Xi Jinping "a thug". His campaign signalled that they will call out China on its policies in the Xinjiang region.
Zheng said that China remained resolute to protect its sovereignty and hoped that the next US administration would meet China halfway.
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