On July 21, US President Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 election, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him as the Democratic Party’s new flag bearer to continue the campaign. As Vice President, her responsibilities include echoing and strengthening the duties of the President, especially in foreign policy. This indicates that Harris’s position on China aligns with Biden’s, so what specific actions and performances does Harris herself have?
According to Bloomberg, Kamala Harris will steadfastly adhere to Biden’s stance towards China, which is that the US will “confront Beijing when necessary, and cooperate when it serves our interests.”
Former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Danny Russel, stated that foreign leaders are now watching to see who will become the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate after Biden for the 2024 election. They must address the uncertainty of how the policies of the winning Democratic candidate differ from Biden’s, especially regarding China, which requires a cautious approach.
If Harris can successfully secure the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in mid-August and continue to win in the November election to remain in power, these foreign leaders feel a high level of predictability regarding Harris’s continuation of Biden’s foreign policy.
Georgetown Law professor Rosa Brooks stated, “If there is any difference, it’s that this strengthens Biden’s position and strengthens America’s position. This will make allies more likely to cooperate with the current (Biden) administration, rather than less, and also make adversaries think twice before excluding us.”
In September 2023, after returning from the ASEAN Summit in Indonesia, Harris emphasized in an interview with CBS about America’s policy towards China and the Indo-Pacific, stating that the US is not seeking conflict with China, nor is it seeking decoupling, but rather managing risks and protecting American interests.
During the CBS program aired on September 10, Harris said, “The US policy is not about decoupling from China, but about managing risks, understanding the situation.”
“We are not exiting the Chinese market, but ensuring that we are protecting American interests, ensuring that we are leading in setting the rules, not following the rules of other countries.”
“When you are in any form of competition, it creates tension, but that doesn’t mean we are seeking conflict.”
“We are deeply concerned about the actions of the Chinese government in the South China Sea, which are impacting the security and prosperity of countries in the region.”
“The leaders of Southeast Asian countries are most concerned about respecting and adhering to international rules and norms, and they also hope to…