US Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry visited China from July 16th to 19th, marking the third visit by a senior US official within a month, following Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Although Kerry is just a climate envoy and ranks behind Blinken and Yellen, it is important to note that the US climate envoy is not part of the cabinet and is not subject to congressional questioning but reports directly to the president. What is crucial is Kerry’s deep connections with China. In the past, whenever there were gaps in US-China relations, it was often Kerry who came to China to mend the relationship. However, now faced with the current challenges in US-China relations, Kerry seems to be in a difficult position.
On July 18th, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Wang Yi, the director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held a meeting with Kerry at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Li Qiang stated that the world is facing severe challenges, and both China and the United States, as well as all other countries, have a responsibility to enhance coordination, establish consensus, and accelerate actions. Referring to Kerry as an old friend, Wang Yi emphasized the necessity of a healthy, stable, and sustainable relationship between China and the United States. Kerry expressed that President Biden values his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and is committed to stabilizing US-China relations, as well as making joint efforts to bring significant changes to the world. The US hopes that climate issues can serve as a new starting point for cooperation and resolving differences between the two countries. A “stable US-China relationship” is not only desired by both countries but also by the world. However, the volatility of US-China relations is increasing.
Kerry’s Deep Ties with Biden
Despite being a climate envoy, Kerry’s relationship with Biden should not be underestimated when compared to the Secretary of State or Treasury Secretary.
Kerry, who has been in the US political arena for many years and is only one year younger than Biden, has strong connections, being part of the Kennedy political dynasty. As early as the 2004 US presidential election, Kerry was already the Democratic Party’s candidate. After losing narrowly to George W. Bush, Kerry and the Kennedy family fully supported the rising star in politics, Barack Obama. Subsequently, Obama defeated Republican candidate John McCain to become the first African American president in US history.
Once Obama took office, Kerry replaced Biden as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, while Biden became the Vice President, and Hillary Clinton became the Secretary of State. In 2012, Kerry helped Obama successfully win re-election, and Hillary decided not to continue as Secretary of State. Kerry succeeded Hillary as the 68th US Secretary of State, while Biden served as Vice President for eight years. For a significant period, Obama, Biden, Kerry, and Hillary were referred to as the “dream team.”
Later, when Biden faced off against Donald Trump, Hillary and Obama had already retired, and Kerry was the only former colleague still involved in politics. Thus, Kerry became Biden’s special envoy for climate issues, occupying a position separate from the US cabinet and reporting directly to the President.
The Weighty Responsibility of a “Climate Envoy”
Is there nothing left to discuss between China and the United States except “climate issues”? This understanding is incorrect. The role of a “climate envoy” should not be underestimated, as the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States have contrasting policies on climate issues.
The Democratic Party believes that climate issues are caused by the emission of carbon dioxide during industrial production, and thus, when in power, the party promotes and rejoined the Paris Agreement. The Republican Party, on the other hand, sees climate issues as a conspiracy. Therefore, when Trump was in power, the United States withdrew from the Paris Agreement. Later, when Biden took office, the US returned to the Paris Agreement.
In the United States, climate issues are not solely scientific but also highly significant political concerns.
Since the two parties represent different interests, the Democratic Party is backed by Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood, which constitute a high-tech cultural group with lower carbon emissions during production. The Republican Party, on the other hand, is supported by traditional manufacturing companies, petrochemical enterprises, etc., which naturally emit more carbon dioxide.
Once Democrats come to power, they provide substantial subsidies to the new energy and high-tech industries to secure the interests of the groups supporting them, while simultaneously suppressing traditional industries, which means suppressing the Republican Party. Conversely, if the Republican Party comes to power, they would implement opposite policies.
Therefore, there is no absence of climate issues, only differing political interests. As the US President’s special envoy for climate issues, Kerry shoulders the pivotal responsibility of bridging the gap between the Democratic Party and interest groups. Only senior party figures can assume such a position.
Interestingly, behind different “interests” lies a connection to China. To some extent, Kerry represents the interests of the Democratic Party’s financial consortium and seeks more opportunities by showing goodwill towards China, thereby challenging the interests of the Republican Party.
“A Familiar Figure to China”
Biden has a close relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In 2011, then-Vice President Biden visited China, and he was received by Vice President Xi Jinping. The two quickly established a “personal relationship.” In fact, not only Biden but also Kerry has had extensive interaction with China.
In April 2009, shortly after taking office, Kerry publicly stated that any global issues required the United States and China to work together. He vividly remarked, “We are in a challenging era where challenges often harbor opportunities. As Deng Xiaoping said, ‘It doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.’ So, let us catch more mice together.” In May of that year, Kerry visited China as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was received by Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.
In April 2013, after becoming the new US Secretary of State, Kerry visited China again and met with Xi Jinping once more. John Thornton, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Asia Society, revealed during an event at the University of Texas at Austin that, during Obama’s tenure, Kerry claimed to have received an invitation from China and had the idea of jointly building the “Belt and Road Initiative.” However, due to obstruction from senior US Treasury officials, the proposal failed to be presented to Obama. Kerry described it as the “biggest political opportunity” he missed in his life.
With Biden taking office, the task of repairing US-China relations has always been entrusted to Kerry. In April 2021, amid the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerry, as the first senior official of the Biden administration to visit China, worked to break the ice in US-China relations. Later, on August 31, when tensions arose between the two governments during the Meng Wanzhou incident, it was Kerry once again who visited China, and one month later, Meng Wanzhou was allowed to return to China.
Currently, the relationship between China and the United States is not only showing cracks but also experiencing significant volatility, even to the extent that it could escalate into a confrontation. In light of this situation, President Biden has no choice but to once again dispatch veteran diplomat Kerry.
According to the official statement, it was agreed upon by both China and the United States that Kerry would visit China from July 16th to 19th. The Chinese side will implement the spirit of the bilateral meeting between the two heads of state in Bali, engaging in in-depth discussions with the U.S. on issues related to climate change. However, a mere “exchange of opinions” does not require three days. During his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Kerry emphasized that both countries can utilize cooperation on climate change to redefine the troubled U.S.-China relationship. Kerry has consistently attempted to separate climate issues from broader diplomatic disputes. However, during Kerry’s 2021 visit to China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that climate issues should not be separated from other broader concerns.
The purpose of Kerry’s return to the forefront is still uncertain, whether it is for negotiation or to implement a strategy to defuse tensions. Only time will tell.