Biden 'committed' to avoiding China confrontation: Top U.S. diplomat

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Biden 'committed' to avoiding China confrontation: Top U.S. diplomat​

Top U.S. diplomat for Indo-Pacific stresses crisis communications with Beijing

AKANE OKUTSU, Nikkei staff writerOctober 25, 2021 13:49 JST

TOKYO -- U.S. President Joe Biden is committed to avoiding confrontation with China despite ongoing political tensions, his chief diplomat for the Indo-Pacific region told a Nikkei-sponsored event on Monday.

"We are trying to clearly explain to Chinese interlocutors that the dominant paradigm for U.S.-China relations going forward is going to be one of competition," Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs at the U.S. National Security Council, told the Nikkei Virtual Global Forum.

"The Biden administration remains committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure that competition does not veer towards confrontation," he said. He added that it is critical for the superpowers to work on building confidence, and to ensure they have capabilities for communicating in a crisis.

Campbell also emphasized the need to "ensure that the U.S.-China engagement serves the interests ... of other countries in the Indo-Pacific."

He suggested that the U.S. should continue shifting its strategic focus from the Middle East and South Asia toward the Indo-Pacific. But he explained that domestic politics would have implications for this.

"If the United States is to continue to play a substantial dynamic role in the Indo-Pacific, then we must make the appropriate investment at home," he said, citing infrastructure bills that would enable technology innovation and "other arenas of competition that will be essential."

The domestic agenda also includes bipartisan engagement. "A huge part of my job is outreach to Republican friends and colleagues to speak about issues that frankly drive Americans more together than divide us -- these are issues associated with the challenges and opportunities ahead in the Indo-Pacific," Campbell said.

Biden 'committed' to avoiding China confrontation: Kurt Campbell

Top U.S. diplomat for Indo-Pacific stresses crisis communications with Beijing

asia.nikkei.com

 

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Chinese State Media Calls Biden Admin 'Most Incapable' in U.S. History Amid Taiwan Tension​

BY JASON LEMON ON 10/24/21 AT 11:38 AM EDT

Chinese state media blasted the administration of President Joe Biden amid tensions related to Taiwan, saying the current U.S. government is the "most incapable and degenerate in the country's history."

China claims Taiwan as part of its nation under the "one country, two systems" policy. But Taiwan has maintained its independence and autonomy for decades, with the U.S. expressing military support for the country if Beijing were ever to attempt to take it back by force. The Biden administration is currently working to help Taiwan participate at the United Nations in a more "meaningful" way, drawing China's anger.

The Global Times, which is published by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, wrote a scathing editorial criticizing the U.S. and the Biden administration's approach to foreign policy.

"The current U.S. government is the most incapable and degenerate in the country's history. The U.S.' national strength has greatly lost its relative advantage, so the cards of trade and human rights Washington plays to counter China have almost no effect at all," the English-language publication wrote.

"Meanwhile, the military deterrence from the Chinese mainland is also containing the Taiwan card the U.S. plays. The U.S. then has come to this cheap shot as a 'new weapon' to launch an alternative offensive against China," it continued.

The state-controlled Chinese news outlet warned that U.S. efforts to back Taiwan at the U.N. would cause "deep divisions" and "paralyze the execution power" by the international organization.

"The U.S. will become a historic sinner that further undermines world unity. But one thing is for sure: No matter how badly it tries, Taiwan will not be able to enter the U.N. The bigger the farce the U.S. makes, the more disgraceful it is," the editorial concluded.

Chinese Media Calls Biden Admin 'Most Incapable' in History Amid Tensions

The Chinese publication said "the U.S. will become a historic sinner that further undermines world unity" by backing Taiwan at the United Nations.

www.newsweek.com