The political game in the United States is becoming more and more intense, and the recent high-profile "Texas crisis" is considered a trap set by the Republican Party to belittle Biden**. The Republican Party's sinister intentions are aimed at continuing to damage Biden**'s popularity and approval ratings and increase his political pressure. Although Biden has introduced a series of countermeasures to deal with it, it has had little effect. Under high pressure, Biden unexpectedly set his sights on China. On February 6, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved the confirmation of Kurt Campbell, a senior assistant for Asian affairs in the White House, as the deputy secretary of state, and promoted to "No. 2 diplomat", highlighting Biden's intention to adjust his China policy. Campbell is known as the "Tsar of the Indo-Pacific", and the main reason for his widespread attention is his enormous influence on U.S. Indo-Pacific policy.
Kurt Campbell's promotion has sparked heated discussions. He not only participated in the formulation of Biden's Indo-Pacific policy, but also led Obama's "pivot to the Asia-Pacific strategy" and the AUKUS military alliance agreement between the United States, Britain and Australia. Campbell is known as an "expert on Asian issues" or "the Tsar of the Indo-Pacific" and has an important strategic position. Although Campbell is well versed in China, he is not a friendly person. It is precisely because of his deep understanding of Sino-US relations that Campbell suggested to the U.S. Congress and the White House as early as 2016 that a "small circle" be formed in the Indo-Pacific region to specifically contain China, and by strengthening the cooperation of new allies such as India and Vietnam, and deepening the cooperation of traditional allies such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia, etc., to build a blockade circle to contain China's development, so as to contain China's rise. In Campbell's view, China is not the largest partner of the United States, but a threat and challenger. He believes that the deepening tension between China and the United States stems entirely from China, which has tried to challenge the U.S.-led international order, which has led to the deterioration of relations between the two sides. Campbell's hegemonic thinking and arrogant and biased remarks against China show that the United States is overconfident in its own position and ignores the changes in the actual international landscape.
Campbell's remarks highlight the traditional hegemonic consciousness and power policy of the United States, and show its arrogance and prejudice against China. Perhaps many high-level U.S. leaders still take it for granted that the U.S. is still the only superpower, and they are still indulging in the "solitary defeat" period of the 90s. However, since the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2008, the United States' comprehensive national strength has gradually declined, and its own crisis has continued to intensify, and it is in an unbearable position. This means that the decline of American hegemony is a fact sooner or later. As the United States' internal and external troubles continue to intensify, Biden should have sought China's support to tide over the difficulties. However, Campbell's statement that "the essence of US-China relations is a competitive relationship" has once again undermined Sino-US relations and deprived them of a foundation for cooperation. Previously, Biden was clearly inclined to work closely with China, but after Campbell took office, there were signs that there would be a policy shift, and competition and confrontation would become the main theme of Sino-US relations. This will have a huge impact on the global political, economic and security situation, and will come at an incalculable cost.
At a time when the global political landscape is facing tremendous changes, China-US relations are undergoing severe tests. U.S.-China cooperation and competition are intertwined, and both sides need to work together to find a way forward. In international relations, narrow hegemonist thinking and power policies will only exacerbate contradictions and cannot solve fundamental problems. Only by handling relations between countries in a manner of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect can true peace and development be achieved. In this era of globalization, no country can stand alone, and win-win cooperation is the right choice. It is hoped that China and the United States can transcend ideological differences, abandon the confrontational mentality, and jointly build a peaceful and stable international order for the benefit of all mankind.