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Just published a piece with @RStatecraft about how @JoeBiden should respond to Trump's attacks that he is "soft" on China-- and how he can turn the argument to his advantage. https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2020/04/15/how-biden-can-beat-trump-on-china/
Biden will be tempted to run to Trump's right--countering Trump by arguing that his incompetence, racism, divisiveness, and dismissive attitude toward allies, international institutions and human right make him "Beijing's best asset." https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/15/china-trump-trump2020-deal-beijing-best-asset/
This would be a mistake. Biden is not adept enough to out-nationalist America's foremost nationalist, and will only empower Trump to further inflame and profit from rising anti-Asian racism. Nor can he counter this by hedging with calls for cooperation with China (climate, etc)
Instead, Biden should be frank: competition with China cannot be avoided, nor can future misunderstandings and crises. But, Trump is the polar opposite of the type of leader you want to manage such a high-stakes and potentially-dangerous relationship. (remember Soleimani?)
What the relationship needs most is not a warrior-president, but someone with the temperament and discretion to manage crises when they arise, and who can do the quiet, behind-the-scenes work of building coalitions that can bring China to the negotiating table.
Biden can be that man. By taking this line, Biden can counter Trump's arguments in a way that exposes and emphasizes his incompetence and strategic bankruptcy, without falling into the trap of trying to outmaneuver Trump in his own domain, nationalism.
