Those unnerved by the rapid escalation of tensions between the U.S. and China in the last few years can be forgiven for feeling relieved that the incoming Joe Biden administration will adopt a more nuanced China strategy dramatically different from Donald Trump's scorched-earth approach.

By all accounts, Chinese President Xi Jinping should welcome a temporary pause in the down spiral of Sino-American relations. Although Biden will continue to treat China as America's most serious long-term geopolitical threat, his administration will also adopt a more diplomatic tone toward China to avoid gratuitously antagonizing its leaders. Washington will pick its battles with China more selectively, and seek its cooperation where mutual interests are aligned, such as climate change and pandemics.