Brief Overview
The unexpected nomination of Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate, with Tim Walz as her running mate, has caused significant consternation among Chinese officials and analysts. Harris, who has never visited China and has only had brief interactions with its leader Xi Jinping, is now a serious contender in the race for the White House. Tim Walz, in contrast, has extensive experience with China, having visited the country numerous times. This juxtaposition presents two major challenges for China’s leaders: it disrupts their cynical view of American politics as fundamentally flawed and it necessitates a reevaluation of how a potential Harris administration might approach US-China relations. Despite Harris’s limited credentials on China, Walz’s deep ties to the country complicate China’s strategic calculations, as they attempt to forecast how the new ticket might influence future diplomatic and economic engagements.
Harris and Walz: Divergent Paths to Power
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, the newly nominated Democratic presidential ticket, represent a complex dynamic for China. Harris, who has never set foot in China, contrasts sharply with Walz, who has visited the country over 30 times. This discrepancy highlights a significant shift in how the Harris-Walz ticket is perceived by Chinese officials. For China, which has long viewed American politics through a lens of skepticism and ideological bias, the emergence of this ticket challenges pre-existing narratives about US political dysfunction and racism. This new development forces a recalibration of China’s understanding of American political strategies and potential policy shifts under a Harris administration.
China’s Historical Misjudgments and Recent Reactions
China’s historical skepticism about American politics has often been fueled by propaganda depicting the US as a nation rife with racial and political dysfunction. The election of Barack Obama in 2008 challenged these views, revealing that America’s racial barriers were not insurmountable. Despite this, China’s recent human rights reports continue to paint a grim picture of racial and gender discrimination in the US. The Harris-Walz ticket, however, disrupts this narrative, as it presents the possibility of electing America’s first female president and potentially the second Black president, which contrasts sharply with China’s portrayal of American political stagnation.
In recent months, the US presidential race has offered Chinese propagandists a chance to portray American democracy as a contest between two aging and cognitively declining men. Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race has unsettled this narrative, leading to internal reflections in China about its own political system, where Xi Jinping’s longevity in power contrasts with the new dynamics of US politics. This shake-up has been captured in various Chinese media and online platforms, reflecting a growing curiosity and concern about how the Harris-Walz ticket might reshape US foreign policy.
Harris’s Diplomatic Experience and Policy Implications
Before becoming vice president, Kamala Harris had minimal exposure to China. Her 2021 biography mentioned China only briefly, and her pre-vice-presidential career included little foreign-policy experience. However, as vice president, Harris has undertaken 17 foreign trips, several of which involved interactions with Asian countries. Notably, in 2022, she had a brief encounter with Xi Jinping during a summit in Thailand. This limited experience has led to speculation about the potential continuity or change in US-China relations under a Harris presidency.
Harris’s first major economic policy speech, delivered on August 16, 2024, revealed her stance on trade, which aligns closely with the protectionist measures of the Trump and Biden administrations. While she criticized Trump’s proposal to increase tariffs, she endorsed economic policies aimed at supporting the middle class—a justification used by the current administration for its protectionist stance. On the diplomatic front, Harris has condemned Chinese actions in the South China Sea and supported Taiwan, signaling a continuation of the US’s critical stance on Chinese geopolitical actions.
Tim Walz’s Unique Position and Its Implications
Tim Walz’s extensive history with China adds an intriguing dimension to the Harris-Walz ticket. His tenure as an English and American history teacher in Foshan, Guangdong, during 1989-1990, and his subsequent student trips to China, have fostered a deep familiarity with the country. This experience, however, is complicated by his record in US politics, where he has been an outspoken critic of China’s human rights abuses. This duality has prompted intense scrutiny in China, where Walz’s past and current positions are seen as indicative of the broader Democratic Party’s stance on China.
Recent scrutiny from American Republicans, who have launched an investigation into Walz’s “cozy relationship” with China, further complicates China’s assessment. Despite these accusations, Walz’s record includes support for legislation aimed at holding China accountable for human rights violations. This background adds layers to China’s understanding of the Harris-Walz ticket, creating uncertainty about how Walz’s China experience might influence his role as vice president.
China’s Strategic Reactions and Future Outlook
For China, the Harris-Walz ticket represents an unexpected shift. While the new ticket is likely to maintain continuity in defense and trade policies, it may also place a greater emphasis on human rights. This prospect has led some in China to yearn for another Trump administration, which they believe might cause chaos but also strain US alliances and weaken its global standing. The preference for Republican administrations in China, as reflected in comments by think-tank analysts, highlights the strategic calculations underlying their political preferences.
If Kamala Harris wins the presidency in November, a potential visit to China in 2025 would be an important diplomatic moment. However, expectations should be tempered, given the challenges faced by previous American presidents in establishing rapport with Chinese leadership. The experience of Barack Obama’s 2009 visit, which involved a relatively modest gesture of meeting students in Shanghai, demonstrated the complexities of US-China diplomatic interactions. A future President Harris may encounter even greater difficulties, given Xi Jinping’s assertive leadership style and his reluctance to compromise.
Conclusion
The Harris-Walz ticket’s emergence has disrupted China’s established narratives about American politics and diplomacy. As Chinese officials and analysts grapple with the implications of this new development, they must reassess their strategies and expectations for US-China relations. The potential for subtle shifts in policy under a Harris administration, coupled with Walz’s unique China experience, introduces new variables into the complex dynamics of US-China diplomacy. As the 2024 election approaches, the impact of the Harris-Walz ticket on global geopolitics will continue to unfold, shaping the future trajectory of US-China relations.
Sunil Garnayak is an expert in Indian news with extensive knowledge of the nation’s political, social, and economic landscape and international relations. With years of experience in journalism, Sunil delivers in-depth analysis and accurate reporting that keeps readers informed about the latest developments in India. His commitment to factual accuracy and nuanced storytelling ensures that his articles provide valuable insights into the country’s most pressing issues.
