Kamala Harris: From Vice President to Presidential Hopeful with a Focus on Foreign Policy
US Vice President Kamala Harris is working to gain support to become the Democratic nominee for the next President of the United States. Many analysts consider her somewhat inexperienced in foreign policy, but experts believe she will likely uphold the Biden administration’s approach, especially in managing relationships with China.
Harris has received endorsements from US President Joe Biden and several senior Democrats after Biden withdrew from the upcoming presidential race. Over the past 3.5 years as vice president, she has visited more than 19 countries and met with over 150 foreign leaders, according to the White House website.
Harris’s Stance on China
In September 2023, Harris attended the ASEAN summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. She discussed US-China relations and Indo-Pacific policy, stating, “We, as the United States, in our policy, it is not about decoupling, it is about de-risking. It is about understanding. It’s not about pulling out, but it is about ensuring that we are protecting American interests and that we are a leader in terms of the rules of the road, as opposed to following others’ rules.”
Harris’s first meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping was at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok in 2022, where she stressed the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage competition between the US and China.
Support for Taiwan
Harris has also expressed US support for Taiwan. In a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in September 2022, she reaffirmed that the US would continue to support Taiwan and oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change its status quo. The White House highlighted that Harris underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as a key element in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Advocacy for Human Rights
As a US senator representing California, Harris was a vocal advocate for human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. In 2019, she co-sponsored the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which aims to promote human rights in Hong Kong and sanction officials involved in undermining its freedoms. The bill was signed into law by then-President Donald Trump.
Harris also facilitated the passage of the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019, which became law in 2020. The bill authorizes the US to impose sanctions on individuals or entities involved in human rights violations in Xinjiang, where reports of mass internment camps and forced labor have drawn global condemnation.
Doubts Revealed
Kamala Harris -: Kamala Harris is the Vice President of the United States. She is the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first South Asian woman to hold this position.
Vice President -: The Vice President is the second-highest official in the United States government. If something happens to the President, the Vice President takes over.
Democratic nominee -: In the United States, there are two main political parties: the Democrats and the Republicans. A nominee is a person chosen by their party to run for President.
Foreign policy -: Foreign policy is how a country interacts with other countries. It includes things like trade, defense, and international agreements.
Biden’s approach -: Joe Biden is the current President of the United States. His approach to foreign policy includes working with other countries and focusing on human rights.
China -: China is a large country in Asia. It is very important in global politics and economics.
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island near China. It has its own government, but China claims it as part of its territory.
Human rights -: Human rights are basic rights and freedoms that all people should have, like freedom of speech and the right to live safely.
Hong Kong -: Hong Kong is a city in China that used to be a British colony. It has special rules and more freedoms compared to other parts of China.
Xinjiang -: Xinjiang is a region in China where many Uyghur people live. There have been reports of human rights abuses against them.
Endorsements -: Endorsements are public statements of support. When someone important endorses a candidate, it means they think that person should win.