Diminished Expectation ?

(Diminished Expectation ?)

It has become a recurring theme to see President Biden out in public to give cringe worthy performance. When Biden was at Arlington giving a Wreath at the Unkown, the President looked confused and bewildered. Now, Biden is set to meet Chinese Premier Xi Jinping as a part of the Asia Pacific Summit, convening in San Francisco. For his part, the Chinese Leader cannot be oblivious to the fact that his American counterpart is being investigated for taking Chinese money.


Ever since Biden came into Office. he had wanted a "special" relationship with Beijing. Biden had wanted the Peoples' Republic to be a partner, the Orient joining the Occident in a global rules based order. Instead, China has opted to act in its own interest and taking advantage of Biden's weak Biden policy. Chinese sanctions, emplaced by the Trump Administration have been relaxed. The so-called China initiative has been repealed. There is no real effort by the American government to press the issue of covid origins. The Biden Administration has been very accommodating towards the Chinese.


So, what will the American President be telling the Chinese Premier in San Francisco ? Will Biden even be aware ? How would the interpreter handle Biden's performance ? To be sure, there issues the two leaders can discuss, Taiwan, errant Chinese spy balloons, Chinese police stations, the Chinese purchase of American farmland, and the thousands of Chinese nationals being flooded across the open Southern Border.


These are issues that even if Biden can raise but even if he does, would it alter Xi's position on any of it ? Will the Peoples' Republic of China leave the Republic of China (Taiwan) alone on Biden's wish ? Will China refrain from any more spy balloons ? Will it close those police stations and stop buying farmland ? Will those imported Chinese not become a Fifth Column in any future conflict in Anglo-Sino relations ? And, will the Chinese Premier give an honest admission about covid ?


What about Chinese involvement in Ukraine as Beijing is using the occasion to get closer to Moscow. The massive pro-Palestinian demonstrations are largely being organized by the Chinese Communist Party propaganda organ, TikTok its embedded algorithm to steer its users to such a point of view. And, as that pro-Palestinian program has the backing of the Chinese government, millions of users support Palestine while a fraction supports Israel.


What is President Biden doing about any of this ? Because he thinks there could be adverse political consequences, Biden is non-committal at a time when he needs to commit more than most. Since the Israel-Hamas war started, he has moved American military assets into the region but, even in the wake of repeated Iranian inspired attacks on American troops in the region, the President has shown a reluctance to escalate further.


Retuning to San Francisco. If Biden took a more aggressive stance towards Iran, if he had the Navy seize an Iranian flagged vessel. Attack Hezbollah positions in Southern Lebanon. If President Biden did any of these actions, perhaps Xi Jinping would hold him in higher regard. 

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