As the Biden administration heads into the second stage, clear steps are visible: Clear out the negative Trump legacy, tighten global strategy, coordinate with allies to curb China and prioritize climate change in China-U.S. cooperation. Some things differ from Trump; others are the same or expanded.

China and the U.S. share misguided illusions of the other that remain unproductive and even dangerous. Both governments must strive to see each other clearly and cooperate in the face of increasing public hostility.

The Biden administration faces many constraints and limitations. And the two sides do not appear to have enough political will to reach a grand strategic bargain. Thus, the summit is unlikely to smooth the bumpy road of bilateral relations.

Using the buzzwords “compete, collaborate, confront” to express the U.S. approach to China is inadequate, as they fail to take nuances into account. In fact, the 3C framework has led to the Chinese view that Biden’s approach is too negative and has only added to the complexity of relations.

It would be a blessing to the world if China were simply supported in its peaceful development. But the opposite is happening. For months, the Biden administration’s approach has attempted to contain China’s rise. Troubling consequences are emerging.

In the 1990s, the famous concept of “soft power” was put forward by Joseph Nye, professor and former dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. It greatly influenced the foreign policy of the Obama administration and became an important concept promoted by the State Department. In his view, a country’s comprehensive national power is divided into hard power and soft power, which mainly includes “cultural attraction, political value attraction and the ability to shape international rules and decide political issues”.

The COVID-19 crisis in India has created an opening for China to flex its regional influence, while the U.S. intends to draw India into America’s orbit for good.

A recent trade deal between the EU and China has stalled in Europe’s governing body, a possible result of China’s soft power shortcomings that affect its public perception outside of the Pacific region.

Tariffs have ceased to be an effective bargaining chip for the United States as it seeks concessions from China. The effort at compulsion has been a miserable failure as China adapted effectively and U.S. consumers bore the costs. U.S. President Joe Biden should rethink his approach to relations.

The Biden administration is pushing a multilateralism based on shared ideals, alliances and partnerships. For the United States, only homogeneous countries can ensure quality and efficiency. But the differences between Chinese and U.S. understandings go beyond diplomatic practice. There are theoretical differences as well.