Navigating U.S.-China Relations: Challenges and Opportunities for Biden's Administration.

Despite efforts by President Biden and Xi Jinping to avoid comparisons to the Cold War, public opinion in the US towards China is becoming increasingly hostile, with many Americans viewing China as an unfriendly or enemy nation. This could complicate attempts to repair relations between the two countries. Public animosity can incentivize leaders to speak and act aggressively, creating a feedback loop in which events, leaders’ words and actions, media coverage, and public opinion reinforce one another. While some experts believe a Cold War framework can help keep tensions from turning hot, others warn that debates over terminology could become beside the point if diplomatic friction and mutual suspicion persist.