US seeks to avoid ‘war’ with China

AFP | United Nations      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

President Joe Biden told the UN General Assembly yesterday that the United States sought to “responsibly manage” its rivalry with China to avoid any possible war.

“When it comes to China, I want to be clear and consistent. We seek to responsibly manage the competition between our countries so it does not tip into conflict,” Biden said in a speech.

His address at the annual gathering was the centerpiece event of his three-day visit to New York, which will include meetings with the heads of five Central Asian nations, and the leaders of Israel and Brazil.

“I have said we are for de-risking, not decoupling with China. We will push back on aggression and intimidation and defend the rules of the road,” Biden added, saying the US would enforce freedom of navigation and ensure there is an even economic playing field.

“We also stand ready to work with China on issues where progress hinges on our common efforts. Nowhere is that more critical than … the accelerating climate crisis,” Biden added. Biden’s comments come as his administration has increased outreach to China, even as Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have gone nearly a year without having a face-to-face meeting.

He and his administration have also sought to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met over the weekend with China’s foreign minister, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in New York this week with China’s vice president.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo have both made recent trips to China for meetings with government and business officials.

But at the same time, the Biden administration has prioritised strengthening relationships and alliances in the Indo-Pacific in an effort to counter Chinese influence in the region and ensure that other countries are not reliant on Beijing for financial support.

The latter point was a major focus for Biden last week when he traveled to India for the Group of 20 Summit. Tensions between Washington and Beijing spiked this year after the US military shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that had floated over the US for several days. Biden later described Xi as a dictator, though he downplayed that the comment had any impact on relations with China.