Dear Focus Reader,

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris secured enough votes to officially become the Democratic presidential candidate on Friday in a new online voting procedure by the party's national convention delegates. While it's expected that Harris will largely continue Biden's China policy if elected in November, serving as a consistent advocate for "de-risking" from China and holding a track record for supporting human rights and backing Taiwan's self-defense, the specifics of her approach remain to be seen.

As President Joe Biden approaches the final five months of his term, there is considerable anticipation regarding his approach to managing U.S.-China relations, and this period is seen as critical for solidifying his legacy in dealing with the world's most significant bilateral relationship. While major breakthroughs before U.S. elections are unlikely, Biden has opportunities to make strategic moves that could impact the future of bilateral ties.

One key focus is likely to be continued dialogue with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Potential meetings at the APEC summit in Lima and the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro could provide a platform for Biden to discuss the implications of the upcoming U.S. presidential election and advise on maintaining constructive relations. Biden's administration is also expected to continue pushing for stronger crisis communication channels between the U.S. and Chinese militaries to manage tensions more effectively.

Additionally, as Washington continues to emphasize the significance of protecting U.S. national security by restricting China's access to advanced semiconductors and equipment used to make them, the Biden administration plans to unveil a new rule next month that will expand U.S. powers to stop exports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment from some foreign countries to Chinese chipmakers. The rule, an expansion of the Foreign Direct Product rule, aims to bar about half a dozen Chinese semiconductor fabrication factories from receiving exports from many countries. The move is part of a broader strategy to impede AI breakthroughs that could benefit the Chinese military and threaten U.S. national security, though Beijing continues to argue that such measures undermine global trade and hurt all parties involved.

Learn more about international relations by catching up on our latest Focus content, with articles discussing Washington's evolving China policy, the Middle East and China, and China-Russia relations.