Xi’s tour de force

One of the highlights of the assumption of President Joseph Biden is his expressed policy to repair global relations primarily in the Asian region, which was set aside during the term of former US President Donald Trump, whose main pursuit was an America First policy.

In his inaugural address, Biden pledged to “engage with the world once again,” which was a departure from the inward and protectionist policy of Trump.

Largely, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is optimistic over the policy shift.

This year’s Asean chair Brunei Darussalam Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof indicated that foreign ministers of the bloc’s member states look forward to working with the Biden administration to strengthen their partnership with the US for the region’s peace, security, stability and prosperity.

Trump had a negligible presence in Asean, which consisted of one tour in the region in his entire four-year administration.

The former president briefly attended the Asean Summit once — in 2017 in the Philippines. Afterward, he was represented by low-ranking officials. He also never appointed a new representative to Asean to replace the last ambassador, who left the post in 2017.

Asean wanted a recommitment for multilateralism that “is inclusive and fair,” according to Erywan.

China, in the absence of the US, has taken over championing the cause of global free trade and multilateralism.

One of the more significant Trump disengagements is that with the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which was the rival of the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership that was recently signed among 15 nations.

The CPTPP was considered an American initiative to back its military forces’ Asian pivot that in turn was seen as part of an overall program to contain the growing might of China.

“By playing its cards right, Beijing… it would have snatched the distinction of being the standard bearer of capitalism despite the paradox of it being a socialist nation.

Xi pressed further as he indicated his desire to be a signatory to the US-abandoned CPTPP.

The move of Xi was meant as a conciliation effort of Xi with the new president.

A commentator of the state-owned CCTV’s English language news channel CGTN called Xi’s effort as a “strategic” move in time for the new Biden administration.

More significantly, however, China’s participation in a competing economic deal will enable the country to cement the upper hand it gained in the superpower rivalry by becoming a free market leader.

“In joining CPTPP, China wanted to show the country’s desire and determination for deeper, higher-level opening up,” according to Wang Huiyao, the influential president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization.

By playing its cards right, Beijing, when the smoke of the US’ November presidential elections clears, it would have snatched the distinction of being the standard bearer of capitalism despite the paradox of it being a socialist nation.

The irony is intentional as it also promotes the Chinese economic model as ideal in the pursuit of a future world order.

At the minimum, China gains a publicity coup even if Biden somehow reestablishes US leadership in the region.

The recent tour of Foreign Minister Wang Yi among Asean nations fortified China’s dominance in the economic sphere in the region as the US under Biden plays catch up.

“China, in the absence of the US, has taken over championing the cause of global free trade and multilateralism.