China Dominates the Situation Room But Not the Campaign Trail

Reversing a Longstanding Pattern, Beijing Is Now Engaging More Actively in Geopolitics

For decades, China has pursued a foreign policy of non-interference and economic engagement, but that strategy is changing. In recent years, Beijing has become more assertive in its territorial claims and more willing to use its growing military power to back them up. This shift is due in part to China's rising economic and military power, but it is also a reflection of Xi Jinping's more ambitious foreign policy goals.

Xi has called for China to become a "great power" and to play a more active role in global affairs. He has also set out a vision for a "new type of great power relations," in which China will cooperate with other countries on a more equal footing. This vision is a departure from the traditional great power model, in which one country dominates others through military and economic power.

Xi's foreign policy has been met with mixed reactions. Some countries, such as Russia and Iran, have welcomed China's more active role in global affairs. Others, such as the United States and Japan, are concerned about China's growing power and its potential to challenge the existing international order.

China's Growing Military Might

One of the most significant changes in China's foreign policy in recent years has been its growing military might. China is now the world's second-largest military spender, and its military is rapidly modernizing. Beijing is also developing new weapons systems, such as anti-ship missiles and stealth fighters, that could pose a threat to U.S. forces in the Pacific.

China's military buildup is driven by a number of factors, including the country's rising economic power, its territorial disputes with neighboring countries, and its desire to protect its sea lanes of communication.

China's Territorial Claims

China has a number of territorial disputes with its neighbors, including Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. In recent years, Beijing has become more assertive in its claims to these territories, and it has been willing to use military force to back them up.

China's territorial claims are based on a number of historical and legal arguments. However, many of these claims are disputed by other countries, and they have the potential to lead to conflict in the future.

Xi's Foreign Policy Vision

Xi's foreign policy vision is based on the idea of a "new type of great power relations." In this vision, China will cooperate with other countries on a more equal footing, and it will not seek to dominate others.

Xi has set out a number of principles for this new type of great power relations, including: mutual respect, win-win cooperation, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

Xi's foreign policy vision is still a work in progress, and it is unclear how it will be implemented in practice. However, it is clear that China is playing a more active role in global affairs, and its foreign policy is becoming more assertive.

China's Influence on the Campaign Trail

China's growing power is also having an impact on the 2020 presidential election. Both candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, have been criticized for their handling of relations with China. Trump has been accused of being too confrontational, while Biden has been accused of being too soft on China.

The issue of China is likely to be a major focus of the presidential campaign, as both candidates try to appeal to voters who are concerned about China's rise.