While Russia represents an immediate threat, the long-term threat posed by China to the global order is more serious, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Antony Blinken delivered a speech Thursday (26.05) aimed at gathering the international community to thwart and oppose China, which the US sees as a long-term threat to global stability. During his speech at George Washington University Blinken tried to strike a balance between competing economic and military interests by outlining the US government’s policy towards China. Blinken said that “China is the only country that aims, as well as the economic, technological, military and diplomatic means to advance a different vision of the international order.”
The US sees Russia as a current and immediate threat to the global order. In the long run, the US considers China more capable than Russia of disrupting international security. “The foundations of the international order are in serious and ongoing danger,” Blinken said.
Before Russia invaded Ukraine, it signed a “borderless” security pact with China. The two countries issued a lengthy statement on the nature of the co-operation, while the translation of the statement into English by China did not include Moscow’s wording on NATO as a threat to and opposition to it.
What was the purpose of Blinken’s speech on US policy on China?
The US seeks to use a range of means to counter and deter China, including its many friends and allies, as well as its considerable military resources as well as other sources.
The US is interested in shaping the strategic environment around China
U.S. officials acknowledge that they do not have the means to shape and influence China’s goals, so instead, the U.S. is interested in shaping the strategic environment around China in which leaders in Beijing must make decisions.
More confrontational policy towards China
The US chief diplomat stressed that the coalition formed to oppose Russia in Ukraine represents a resourceful and well-resourced model to meet future challenges from China. “By preventing Putin from achieving his goals, we believe we are greatly strengthening our hand to defend and support this order against challenges from others,” Blinken said. nuclear powers. “
Following authoritarian crackdowns on Uighurs in Xinjiang and pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, as well as in Tibet and the South China Sea, the Biden administration has largely pursued a more confrontational policy toward China than the policy under the Trump administration. Blinken mentioned in his speech especially the Uyghurs, against whom Beijing according to US accusations is committing genocide.