Letter from China: Cautious welcome for Biden in Beijing

The Chinese government’s delayed response to the president-elect’s victory indicates wariness, but LNG trade could be a bridge to better relations

It perhaps came as no surprise when China dispensed with usual etiquette to take its time acknowledging US president-elect Joe Biden on his election win, given nearly four tumultuous years of a Trump administration that trampled decorum on numerous occasions. The belated congratulations from Beijing to Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris after days of silence represented a break with diplomatic protocol—especially since it came not from Chinese president Xi Jinping, but from a foreign ministry spokesman. “We respect the American people’s choice,” said Wang Wenbin. As congratulations go, it was not the warmest—indicative of caution in Beijing over the incoming administration. The pragmat