Under Biden Presidency, the US will rejoin WHO, Paris Climate agreement and rebuild ties with China

US President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday said that as soon as he formally takes over his new office, he would work towards making the US rejoin World Health Organisation, Paris Climate Pact, and explore diplomatic strategies that pressurize to make China ‘play by the rules’. Biden mentioned the above plan of action while answering a question about his remarks during the presidential debate, wherein he said that wanted to punish China for the way it has been working.

Speaking at a bipartisan group meet of governors, Biden clarified his approach towards China and said that more than “punishing” the rival nation through economic sanctions or tariffs, his administration would resort to strategic diplomatic means to make Beijing understand “that they have got to play by the rules”.

Playing by rules was also his reason for the US to rejoin the WHO and the Climate agreement, which the Trump administration exited in July 2020 and June 2017, respectively. Biden said, “That is one of the reasons we are going to rejoin the World Health Organisation on day one...we are going to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord. We have to make sure that the rest of the world and we get together and make sure there are certain right lines the Chinese understand.” He also emphasized the need for reforms in the UN body.

In July, this year the incumbent US President Donald Trump in his classic aggressive move announced that the US would withdraw from the WHO, accusing the organization of not being able to make early predictions and investigations regarding the onset of the coronavirus, which was first found in China. Trump also accused WHO officials of being biased towards China in its findings of the pandemic onslaught.

Three years ago, Trump did the same, by showing his disbelief in climate change concerns and exited the landmark Paris agreement, inviting sharp criticism from world leaders and environmental activists.

Besides, Trump’s handling of trade and geopolitical affairs with China landed the two nations an intense spot. Under the Republican leader, US-China ties hit its lowest phase over the years. China under President Xi Jinping openly admitted its struggles with, as Chinese officials said, the most unpredictable American leader after former US president Richard Nixon in 1972. Chinese strategic experts said that they would look forward to Biden Presidency, as under him the two nations would get a chance to rebuild communication and the long-lost mutual strategic trust.