Some folks think former vice president Joe Biden has lost his edge at 76 years old, six years older than Donald Trump was when the president began his term in 2016.

Others believe Biden is simply catering to the radical faction of his party, shifting positions on key issues like a chameleon to appease young voters he’ll need to unseat Trump in 2020.

Either way, the elderly career politician has repeatedly flip-flopped on important issues early in his campaign, including twice in the last week alone, prompting some to speculate that he may not have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with The Donald.

The most recent example came Tuesday, when Biden contradicted himself on the threat China poses to the U.S., shifting from “they’re not competition for us” in May to “China poses a serious challenge to us” this week at a campaign stop in Iowa.

The latest episode is particularly telling because it conflicts with the perspective on China Biden has espoused throughout his political career. As recently as last week in New Hampshire, Biden questioned “What are we worried about?” in regards to China, the New York Post reports.

In Iowa last month, Biden scoffed at the idea that the communist nation poses problems for the U.S.

“China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man … They’re not bad folks, folks … they’re not competition for us,” he said. “No other nation can catch us, including China. I got criticized for saying that.”

But when Biden returned Iowa Tuesday, he was whistling a much different tune and it sounded a lot like the message President Trump has been preaching for years.

Biden told his audience of less than 100 at Ottumwa, Iowa’s Bridge View Center that now is the time “to get tough with China,” something he repeatedly failed to when he had the opportunity as Obama’s vice president.

Ironically, Biden seemingly adopted President Trump’s perspective on China overnight, while simultaneously criticizing the president for taking action to make things right.

“While Trump is tweeting, China is making massive investments in technologies of the future. While Trump is name-calling, China is building roads, bridges, and high-speed rail,” Biden lectured, according to National Review. “While Trump is pursuing a damaging and erratic trade war, without any real strategy, China is positioning itself to lead the world in renewable energy. While Trump is attacking our friends, China is pressing its advantage all over the world.”

The Post’s editorial board put Biden’s comments into proper perspective.

Biden’s soft stance on China up until Tuesday “fit with the policies he supported for eight years as No. 2 to President Barack Obama, who responded to China’s theft of intellectual property and other clear violations of World Trade Organization rules by … asking President Xi Jinping to stop. As if,” the Post opined.

“Trump has been doing what Team Obama never dared: Calling China to account, and putting all its trade privileges at risk if it doesn’t change. And he’s standing firm: When Beijing reneged on trade concessions last month, he broke off talks and imposed tougher tariffs. He also blacklisted tech giant Huawei as a risk to US national security.”

Regardless, Biden’s flip-flop on China is only his most recent policy reversal in recent weeks. Last week, the twice failed presidential candidate changed his long running support for the Hyde Amendment, which bans public funding for abortions.

Before that, Biden shifted to the left on climate change, moving from a focus on practical solutions to more drastic measures to address the alleged crisis favored by socialist like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and most Democrats in the crowded 2020 primary.

The inconsistency is raising eyebrows among both Biden’s allies and critics, and prompting important questions that remain unanswered.

“I think this was a parable about Biden that goes to question marks about his candidacy,” former Obama advisor David Axelrod told CNN, referring to Biden’s “flip-flop-flip” on the Hyde Amendment. “His rollout was flawless, in my view, and he’s had a very solid spring, but this underscores questions people have had about whether he can go the distance.”

And even if he eventually squares up with Trump, “Who will Uncle Joe even be by the end of the campaign?” the Post questioned.