China Redux

Senator Joe Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to weigh in on China’s anti-satellite test, during an appearance on Fox News Sunday:

“I don’t think we should be overly worried about this at this point,” Biden said. “We have ways to deal with that ability.”

Being worried and having ways to cope are two very different things. But Biden, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, is probably right on both matters.

Biden seemed to suggest that the test pointed to the need for greater cooperation from the US towards the negotiation of a new space treaty.

“One of the things we have to talk about is whether or not the, sort of, ideological base notion about how we deal with space and weapons in space and the use of weapons from space is something that is a path we should continue to follow,” he said.

The phrase “ideological base notion” likely refers to the defining theme of the Bush Administration’s international affairs policy: the extreme distrust and disregard for international law and security measures. In theory, this type of anti-internationalism can produce real benefits for the US. But it can also come back to bite you. And it sure leaves you exposed.

Meanwhile, which of the other Democratic presidential candidates can compare to Biden’s wisdom and experience on foreign policy issues? I don’t think he’ll win the nomination, but you could see him in the role of Secretary of State.