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President Biden’s foreign policy has driven China and Russia into a closer strategic partnership, a development experts argue would not have occurred under the previous administration. This alliance was solidified during a recent meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in Beijing.
Why It Matters
Strengthening ties between two nuclear powers, China and Russia, poses significant challenges to U.S. foreign policy and global stability.
Who It Impacts
The deepening relationship between China and Russia impacts American national security and economic interests, as well as global geopolitical dynamics.
President Biden’s foreign policy missteps have inadvertently driven China and Russia into a closer strategic alliance, a move that some experts argue constitutes his “biggest blunder” to date. Heritage Foundation senior fellow Michael Pillsbury expressed his concerns on “Fox & Friends,” emphasizing that this “shocking” alliance between the two nuclear powers would not have occurred under the Trump administration. Pillsbury highlighted that Trump’s approach towards China, particularly his use of tariffs to exert leverage, was aimed at preventing such an alliance.
The warning came as Russian President Vladimir Putin embarked on a state visit to Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to strengthen bilateral ties and seek additional support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Both leaders have publicly called for an end to the conflict, but their growing cooperation signals a formidable challenge to U.S. interests.
Pillsbury criticized the Biden administration for its role in pushing these two nations closer together. He noted that historically, Russia and China have had tense relations, including a significant military presence along their shared border. The newfound cooperation between these powers is thus seen as a significant geopolitical shift and a major strategic error by the current U.S. administration.
Adding to the tension, China announced retaliatory measures against the U.S. in response to Biden’s newly imposed tariffs on $18 billion worth of Chinese imports. These measures include a substantial increase in tariffs on electric vehicles and other strategic sectors such as steel, aluminum, semiconductors, batteries, and solar cells. President Biden justified the tariffs by accusing China of heavily subsidizing these products, which leads to overproduction and dumping excess goods at unfairly low prices, harming global competitors.
Former Trump national security aide John Ullyot described the Xi-Putin summit as a clear “show of force” against the U.S. and a rebuke of Western sanctions. He pointed out that Russia, having been cut off from exporting oil and natural gas to Western Europe, is now turning to China as a crucial market. This shift underscores the deepening economic ties between the two countries, further complicating the geopolitical landscape for the U.S.
Ullyot also mentioned a proposed pipeline through Mongolia, which would enhance energy cooperation between Russia and China. This project, currently on hold, signifies the potential for even greater integration between the two nations, aimed at circumventing Western sanctions and stabilizing their economies.
The escalation of tariffs under Biden follows a precedent set by former President Donald Trump, who imposed tariffs on numerous Chinese goods in 2018 and 2019. These actions were in response to findings that China was violating U.S. intellectual property laws and coercing American companies into transferring sensitive technology. The current administration’s approach, however, seems to have led to unintended consequences, strengthening the very alliance it aimed to weaken.
The burgeoning partnership between China and Russia represents a significant shift in global power dynamics. This alliance not only poses a direct challenge to U.S. foreign policy but also impacts global stability and economic interests. The Biden administration now faces the critical task of addressing these developments while safeguarding American interests in an increasingly complex international arena.
