East Asian Challenges and the Biden Administration"
Early in his presidency, Joe Biden faces a range of urgent international challenges that will demand his attention and test his leadership. These challenges include dealing with China, particularly projecting strength and firmness in the face of Beijing's assertive illiberalism while preventing relations from spiraling downward into confrontation. The Biden administration must also seek to narrow differences with its South Korean ally over defense cost-sharing, missile defenses, wartime operational control over South Korean military forces, and policies towards China and North Korea. In addition, dealing with North Korea will be particularly problematic, even dangerous, as Pyongyang's nuclear and missile arsenals have grown significantly over the last four years.
Evans J.R. Revere is a nonresident senior fellow in foreign policy at Brookings’ Center for East Asia Policy Studies. He is also senior advisor with the Albright Stonebridge Group. A veteran diplomat, Mr. Revere retired from the U.S. State Department after a distinguished career as one of the Department’s top Asia experts.