As many people across the world rejoice the defeat of Donald Trump, it is possible that before he exits the Oval Office, he could make some decisions that could be disruptive to President-elect Joe Biden and particularly for China, the country that Trump holds responsible for the Wuhan Virus and the raison d’etre for his defeat in the election.
Trump has still not concealed defeat as he claims that there was widespread electoral fraud which has made the path to peaceful transfer of power very narrow.
Before Trump leaves office, he can through executive orders, subject sanctions on more Chinese state-owned companies, restrict on “dual-use” civilian-military exports, ban more Chinese apps, block all semiconductor sales to Huawei Technologies for 5G networks, etc. The worst fear for China is the possibility of being declared as a currency manipulator during the period of transfer of power.
James Green, a Georgetown University senior fellow and former trade negotiator said, “I think there is a good chance for mischief across a range of US policies leading up to the inauguration. In terms of cooperative handover procedures, I worry about that. It seems to me one of those norms that the Trump administration has no interest in upholding.”
Many believe that Trump had the odds in his favour until the Wuhan virus pandemic. They say that he would have easily won the election had the pandemic not struck just before the elections. It is expected that China will receive the short end of the stick as Trump has repeatedly held China responsible for the pandemic and sagging economy that has led to his eventual loss.
Trump could make many policies that will be hard to reverse with regard to China and Iran. The other reason will be human rights which is a sticky subject for China and Trump could hold China guilty of “genocide” for the mass detention of Uygur Muslims in the Xinjiang province.
When it comes to human rights the Democratic Party has been the torchbearer and by putting sanctions on Communist Party officials, just as America did not participate in the 1980 summer Olympics in Moscow, Trump’s decisions could spell trouble for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Already 2020, Tokyo Olympics had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 causing considerable loss to the Japanese exchequer.
Former National Security Council official Jeff Moon says there could be last-minute punitive moves against Beijing and “Trump has promised to punish China for Covid-19, so the question is, what does that mean,”.
If Trump decides to take action against China based on such assertions, it would be very hard for Biden to countermand such decisions.
To give credence to Trump, according to a Pew Research Centre, 73 per cent of Americans hold a negative view of China. Also, China has not made matters easy due to its expansionism in the South China Sea, the present conflict with India in Ladakh, the blatant human rights violation Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and the clear and present danger posed to Taiwan.
So it is quite possible Trump could issue more executive orders, agency rulemaking and appointments which does not require Senate approval. Individuals who were political appointees can also be shifted to civil services, a process called “burrowing in”, which could be a thorn in smooth transition of power.
However, executive orders are not laws passed by Congress and do not carry the weight of law, but still, it can make things difficult for the Biden administration. Any quick reversals of policies will be seen with suspicion by both an ally and adversaries.
For Biden, the task is cut out as he has to please the hard left Antifa and liberals who want to do away with many of the existing political norms. Biden also has to deal with the right which overwhelmingly voted for Trump and deal with a partisan Congress and Senate.
Already there is a China Task Force report released in late September this year and it has 82 key findings and 400 “forward leaning recommendations” that calls for investigation for genocide claims, and an “all of government” response to Communist Party propaganda, check Beijing’s role in the UN and fund technologies to circumvent Chinese censorship.
Bidon cannot undermine such reports and will be labeled going soft on China and communists. Also, if Biden goes soft on China it will only give more credibility to his detractors, particularly Trump who directly accused Hunter Biden of taking money from China.
Already China has started to make an overture to Biden, hoping to ease tension and restore trade balance. However, it looks more difficult than that because China with its inequitable trade policies and flexing its military muscle to intimidate and manufacture conflict with practically all its neighbors has forced many in the American policy circle to take a more confrontational stand.
It is likely, Biden’s policies on China will be no different than that of Donald Trump. Trump on the other hand could simply put aside his differences with China for the sake of his business.
Donald Trump could hit China hard before he leaves office
As many people across the world rejoice the defeat of Donald Trump, it is possible that before he exits the Oval Office, he could make some decisions that could be disruptive to President-elect Joe Biden and particularly for China, the country that Trump holds responsible for the Wuhan Virus and the raison d’etre for his defeat in the election.
Trump has still not concealed defeat as he claims that there was widespread electoral fraud which has made the path to peaceful transfer of power very narrow.
Before Trump leaves office, he can through executive orders, subject sanctions on more Chinese state-owned companies, restrict on “dual-use” civilian-military exports, ban more Chinese apps, block all semiconductor sales to Huawei Technologies for 5G networks, etc. The worst fear for China is the possibility of being declared as a currency manipulator during the period of transfer of power.
James Green, a Georgetown University senior fellow and former trade negotiator said, “I think there is a good chance for mischief across a range of US policies leading up to the inauguration. In terms of cooperative handover procedures, I worry about that. It seems to me one of those norms that the Trump administration has no interest in upholding.”
Many believe that Trump had the odds in his favour until the Wuhan virus pandemic. They say that he would have easily won the election had the pandemic not struck just before the elections. It is expected that China will receive the short end of the stick as Trump has repeatedly held China responsible for the pandemic and sagging economy that has led to his eventual loss.
Trump could make many policies that will be hard to reverse with regard to China and Iran. The other reason will be human rights which is a sticky subject for China and Trump could hold China guilty of “genocide” for the mass detention of Uygur Muslims in the Xinjiang province.
When it comes to human rights the Democratic Party has been the torchbearer and by putting sanctions on Communist Party officials, just as America did not participate in the 1980 summer Olympics in Moscow, Trump’s decisions could spell trouble for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Already 2020, Tokyo Olympics had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 causing considerable loss to the Japanese exchequer.
Former National Security Council official Jeff Moon says there could be last-minute punitive moves against Beijing and “Trump has promised to punish China for Covid-19, so the question is, what does that mean,”.
If Trump decides to take action against China based on such assertions, it would be very hard for Biden to countermand such decisions.
To give credence to Trump, according to a Pew Research Centre, 73 per cent of Americans hold a negative view of China. Also, China has not made matters easy due to its expansionism in the South China Sea, the present conflict with India in Ladakh, the blatant human rights violation Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and the clear and present danger posed to Taiwan.
So it is quite possible Trump could issue more executive orders, agency rulemaking and appointments which does not require Senate approval. Individuals who were political appointees can also be shifted to civil services, a process called “burrowing in”, which could be a thorn in smooth transition of power.
However, executive orders are not laws passed by Congress and do not carry the weight of law, but still, it can make things difficult for the Biden administration. Any quick reversals of policies will be seen with suspicion by both an ally and adversaries.
For Biden, the task is cut out as he has to please the hard left Antifa and liberals who want to do away with many of the existing political norms. Biden also has to deal with the right which overwhelmingly voted for Trump and deal with a partisan Congress and Senate.
Already there is a China Task Force report released in late September this year and it has 82 key findings and 400 “forward leaning recommendations” that calls for investigation for genocide claims, and an “all of government” response to Communist Party propaganda, check Beijing’s role in the UN and fund technologies to circumvent Chinese censorship.
Bidon cannot undermine such reports and will be labeled going soft on China and communists. Also, if Biden goes soft on China it will only give more credibility to his detractors, particularly Trump who directly accused Hunter Biden of taking money from China.
Already China has started to make an overture to Biden, hoping to ease tension and restore trade balance. However, it looks more difficult than that because China with its inequitable trade policies and flexing its military muscle to intimidate and manufacture conflict with practically all its neighbors has forced many in the American policy circle to take a more confrontational stand.
It is likely, Biden’s policies on China will be no different than that of Donald Trump. Trump on the other hand could simply put aside his differences with China for the sake of his business.