China-U.S. relations should not be defined by vicious strategic competition but rather by a nurturing of mutual trust. The greatest obstacle is presented by China hawks in U.S. strategic circles who want to hijack American policy and prevent Biden from breaking away from Trumpism.

In a recent poll the new U.S. president’s approval among American adults was 59 percent. But on the diplomatic front, and especially on China policy, the administration’s performance has not only been mediocre but is laden with escalating risks of confrontation.

U.S. core national interests are defined by the new administration as safeguarding American strength, promoting power sharing to U.S. advantage and upholding a stable and open international system.

Although the Biden administration’s approach to strategic competition is quite different from the Trump administration’s, it does not necessarily follow that China–U.S. relations will stabilize and improve.

Reflecting on the recent meeting in Alaska between China and the United States, one might be tempted to worry about the tough U.S. posturing. Closer examination, however, suggests it was just political theater staged for the media and domestic observers.

The new U.S. president will want to invest hard strategic resources in the Asia-Pacific region, which will require the use of diplomatic and economic measures to maintain its strategic presence in the Middle East. The arrangement looks reasonable, but it is doomed to fail.

When two highly motivated powers compete for influence, its defenders prepare for the worst - full blown military conflict. The cost of deadly conflict must weigh heavily on the minds of national leaders before they take their next steps.

The U.S. secretary of state suggested subtly that democratization is still a U.S. strategic goal with regard to China, as well as securing American leadership in technology. All in all, the policies of the Biden administration differ little from those of Donald Trump.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's final days in power saw him apply pressure to Beijing on sensitive issues. It is likely that President Biden will expand and refine Donald Trump's China policy to include additional economic and humanitarian demands.

The new U.S. president is relying is his political memory as he approaches relations with Europe. But the world no longer matches the memories. He will face significant new hurdles. Donald Trump made structural changes that will not be easy to undo.