Long two of the world’s most recognizable global powers, the United States and China share arguably the most important and complex bilateral relationship with respect to the health of the global economy. Relations between the two countries have become tumultuous at best over the better part of the past decade however. Most recently, the two countries have remained at odds over China’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with American President Joe Biden threatening repercussions should China provide material support to the Kremlin, further contributing to an already rocky geopolitical landscape. The U.S. government’s push to remain competitive in the areas of technology and the cultivation of domestic industry – along with their well-documented crusade against intellectual property theft and unfair economic practices on China’s behalf – have also compounded ongoing trade and supply-chain issues. In a new National Security Strategy document published last week, United States President Joe Biden claims that the world is at an “inflection point”, with national security efforts needing to address a “new world.” The 48-page document identified several key challenges facing the country while also outlining global strategies needed to better direct the United States and its allies through what has developed into a truly unique economic period in the post-Covid era.

            The document warns that the U.S. faces a “decisive decade” with respect to its ongoing rivalry with China, and implies there will be a competition between superpowers for global supremacy, further stressing the seriousness of the situation. “China harbors the intention and, increasingly, the capacity to reshape the international order in favor of one that tilts the global playing field to its benefit,” writes Biden. “We stand now at the inflection point, where the choices we make and the priorities we pursue today will set us on a course that determines our competitive position long into the future.”² While focusing greatly on Beijing, the document also touched on the “immediate and ongoing” threat posed by Russia as the conflict in Ukraine lingers on. Biden claims that Russia “shattered peace in Europe” and continues to endanger the world’s non-proliferation efforts with “reckless nuclear threats.”² While the U.S. government believes that the Federation “lacks the across the spectrum capabilities of [China]”, the document notes that the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin is one of the greatest challenges standing in the way of a “free, open, prosperous, and secure international order.”¹

            With respect to the new Strategy document, U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan noted that “[China’s] assertiveness at home and abroad is advancing an illiberal vision across economic, political, security and technological realms in competition with the West,” Sullivan said. “It is the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and the growing capacity to do it.”¹ It appears that the country has started its initiative towards increasing its global reach by attempting to both modernize and expanding its military to achieve parity with U.S. forces by 2027. Many believe such a strategy could also ultimately lead China to initiate a war over Taiwan in the not-so-distant future. These efforts have to date been countered by U.S. officials moving to further restrict China’s access to the critical semiconductor technology that has contributed to rapid commercial and military advancements in the region. The latest round of sweeping restrictions levied by the U.S. against China last month blocked the exports of chip-making equipment and design software, while banning several of the world’s leading silicon fabs from manufacturing advanced chips for Chinese firms. The New York Times, citing U.S. intelligence reports, writes thatChina had been using supercomputing and artificial intelligence propagated by semiconductors to develop “stealth and hypersonic weapons systems, and to try to crack the U.S. government’s most encrypted messaging.”³ In spite of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent public plea that the two countries must get along given that their common interests outweigh their differences, China has taken great exception to these types of moves by the U.S. government in recent months. The Communist Party has accused the United States of interfering in their domestic affairs and forming anti-China coalitions with its allies, while internally believing that the U.S. is actively trying to stifle its economic growth for their own respective gain.

            One of the over-arching themes of the new strategy is that in order to ensure continued economic success and homeland security for decades to come, the U.S. will seek continued global cooperation in facing its greatest international challenges head on. This process will include mobilizing a broad coalition of nations to enhance American influence abroad and working with these countries to better shape the international “rules of the road” for the 21^st century economy.¹ In order to do so, the U.S. will also seek to continue investing heavily into their current sources of national strength. This includes equipping their own military and intelligence enterprises for strategic competition, while maintaining the capability to disrupt any terrorist threats to America.¹

Citations

1. Garamone, Jim. “National Security Strategy Aims to Address New Challenges.” U.S. Department of Defense, 13 Oct. 2022, 1. 
2. Sevastopulo, Demetri. “Joe Biden Warns Us Faces ‘Decisive Decade’ in Rivalry with China.” Financial Times, 12 Oct. 2022. 
3. Swanson, Ana, and Edward Wong. “With New Crackdown, Biden Wages Global Campaign on Chinese Technology.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Oct. 2022. 

New National Security Strategy Pits U.S. Against China, Russia Over “Decisive Decade”

            Long two of the world’s most recognizable global powers, the United States and China share arguably the most important and complex bilateral relationship with respect to the health of the global economy. Relations between the two countries have become tumultuous at best over the better part of the past decade however. Most recently, the two countries have remained at odds over China’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with American President Joe Biden threatening repercussions should China provide material support to the Kremlin, further contributing to an already rocky geopolitical landscape. The U.S. government’s push to remain competitive in the areas of technology and the cultivation of domestic industry – along with their well-documented crusade against intellectual property theft and unfair economic practices on China’s behalf – have also compounded ongoing trade and supply-chain issues. In a new National Security Strategy document published last week, United States President Joe Biden claims that the world is at an “inflection point”, with national security efforts needing to address a “new world.” The 48-page document identified several key challenges facing the country while also outlining global strategies needed to better direct the United States and its allies through what has developed into a truly unique economic period in the post-Covid era.

            The document warns that the U.S. faces a “decisive decade” with respect to its ongoing rivalry with China, and implies there will be a competition between superpowers for global supremacy, further stressing the seriousness of the situation. “China harbors the intention and, increasingly, the capacity to reshape the international order in favor of one that tilts the global playing field to its benefit,” writes Biden. “We stand now at the inflection point, where the choices we make and the priorities we pursue today will set us on a course that determines our competitive position long into the future.”² While focusing greatly on Beijing, the document also touched on the “immediate and ongoing” threat posed by Russia as the conflict in Ukraine lingers on. Biden claims that Russia “shattered peace in Europe” and continues to endanger the world’s non-proliferation efforts with “reckless nuclear threats.”² While the U.S. government believes that the Federation “lacks the across the spectrum capabilities of [China]”, the document notes that the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin is one of the greatest challenges standing in the way of a “free, open, prosperous, and secure international order.”¹

            With respect to the new Strategy document, U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan noted that “[China’s] assertiveness at home and abroad is advancing an illiberal vision across economic, political, security and technological realms in competition with the West,” Sullivan said. “It is the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and the growing capacity to do it.”¹ It appears that the country has started its initiative towards increasing its global reach by attempting to both modernize and expanding its military to achieve parity with U.S. forces by 2027. Many believe such a strategy could also ultimately lead China to initiate a war over Taiwan in the not-so-distant future. These efforts have to date been countered by U.S. officials moving to further restrict China’s access to the critical semiconductor technology that has contributed to rapid commercial and military advancements in the region. The latest round of sweeping restrictions levied by the U.S. against China last month blocked the exports of chip-making equipment and design software, while banning several of the world’s leading silicon fabs from manufacturing advanced chips for Chinese firms. The New York Times, citing U.S. intelligence reports, writes thatChina had been using supercomputing and artificial intelligence propagated by semiconductors to develop “stealth and hypersonic weapons systems, and to try to crack the U.S. government’s most encrypted messaging.”³ In spite of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent public plea that the two countries must get along given that their common interests outweigh their differences, China has taken great exception to these types of moves by the U.S. government in recent months. The Communist Party has accused the United States of interfering in their domestic affairs and forming anti-China coalitions with its allies, while internally believing that the U.S. is actively trying to stifle its economic growth for their own respective gain.

            One of the over-arching themes of the new strategy is that in order to ensure continued economic success and homeland security for decades to come, the U.S. will seek continued global cooperation in facing its greatest international challenges head on. This process will include mobilizing a broad coalition of nations to enhance American influence abroad and working with these countries to better shape the international “rules of the road” for the 21^st century economy.¹ In order to do so, the U.S. will also seek to continue investing heavily into their current sources of national strength. This includes equipping their own military and intelligence enterprises for strategic competition, while maintaining the capability to disrupt any terrorist threats to America.¹

Citations

1. Garamone, Jim. “National Security Strategy Aims to Address New Challenges.” U.S. Department of Defense, 13 Oct. 2022, 1. 
2. Sevastopulo, Demetri. “Joe Biden Warns Us Faces ‘Decisive Decade’ in Rivalry with China.” Financial Times, 12 Oct. 2022. 
3. Swanson, Ana, and Edward Wong. “With New Crackdown, Biden Wages Global Campaign on Chinese Technology.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Oct. 2022.