Is US Harris a China Novice?..."May Be More Assertive on China Policy Than Biden"

No Experience Visiting China... "Need to Increase Understanding of China"
"No Proposals for China Policy Made"

Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President who has emerged as a leading Democratic presidential candidate, is drawing attention for the China-related policies she may propose during her campaign. Experts generally predict that Harris, who has no special experience visiting China or engaging with key Chinese figures during her tenure, will closely follow President Joe Biden's China policy. However, there is also speculation that she might adopt a tougher stance during the campaign to overcome her relative disadvantage compared to the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump.

On the 22nd, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported experts' forecasts that Harris would follow the China policy outlined by President Biden if she becomes the Democratic nominee. Qing Zian, a professor at the National University of Singapore, stated, "The Harris administration could be more consistent and systematic in its approach to China."

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Vice President Harris met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2022, engaging in dialogue aimed at reducing misunderstandings and promoting communication between the two countries. However, she has never visited China during her tenure, nor is there any known special interaction or connection with key Chinese figures.

Ainer Tangen, a senior researcher at the Chinese think tank Taihe Institute, said, "In terms of China policy, Harris has not shown any policy vision as vice president," adding, "I don't know who among those responsible for China policy in the Biden administration would want to work with Harris."

Bloomberg also pointed out the need to improve Harris's understanding of China policy. Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore and a former U.S. Department of Defense official responsible for China, told Bloomberg, "Harris has no significant record of activity related to China and is probably not very familiar with the area," noting, "Biden has sharp intuition and long-standing relationships with world leaders including President Xi, but Harris does not."

He added, "She will need to quickly build trust with national security advisors to receive guidance on China policy." Bloomberg also suggested that Harris could leverage California Governor Gavin Newsom, who visited China last year and delivered constructive cooperation messages.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Some speculate that if Harris launches a full-scale campaign, she may issue tougher statements and policies regarding China. Shang Dingli, a professor at Fudan University in Shanghai, said, "It is uncertain how Harris's foreign policy will change. To increase her chances in a fierce election campaign, she may propose tougher policies on China," explaining, "This could include measures such as raising tariffs on Chinese products, similar to those introduced by former President Trump."

China is cautiously monitoring the situation and has been reserved in its comments or evaluations of Vice President Harris. At a regular briefing that day, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to requests for comments on Harris's Democratic presidential candidacy by saying, "The U.S. presidential election is a domestic matter of the United States, and we will not comment." The state-run media outlet Global Times (GT) once published an article quoting experts who described Harris's achievements as "average" and criticized her for "lack of experience and accomplishments," but the article was abruptly deleted.