Relations between the United States, Russia and China President Biden
Joe Biden: Russia and China increase tensions with the White House New challenges arise for Biden after a strong start Feinstein opens the door to support filibuster reform MORE they begin with a difficult and hostile beginning.
This week Biden agreed with an interviewer’s assessment that the Russian president Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin: Tensions in Russia and China Rise With White House Biden Vs. Putin: The first round Erdogan says Biden is commenting on Putin’s “unacceptable” MORE he was a “killer” and said he would pay for interference in U.S. elections. Putin responded by wishing Biden “good health,” a retort that reminded everyone who listened to the poisonings of Kremlin dissidents.
A day later, U.S. and Chinese officials exchanged sharp words at their first meeting since Biden opened, and Beijing indicated that the U.S. should be more concerned about democracy within its borders than outside. of them.
The Biden administration hopes to counter Russia and China by strengthening US alliances and working in concert with partners to pressure the two countries to change their behavior.
The antagonistic signals from Moscow and Beijing show the Biden administration that the two countries are willing to face the United States as well.
Andrea Kendall-Taylor, senior member and director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for New American Security, said the tough conversation is not a surprise given the strength Moscow and Beijing believe they gained during the years of Trump.
“Especially after four years of the Trump administration, which created a very permissive environment for the authorities to assert themselves, it’s kind of a continuation of a lot of the trends we’ve seen in recent years,” he said.
Despite the antagonism, the Biden administration hopes to work with the two countries on areas of shared agreement, such as tackling climate change and repairing Iran’s nuclear deal, signed by China and Russia.
But the president has also brought together allies to strongly denounce human rights abuses in both countries and impose costs by coordinating sanctions.
Critics of the Trump administration see Biden’s approach as a breath of fresh air, given Trump’s friendly openings toward Putin and his reduced ratings of Moscow’s aggressive behavior.
The Biden administration has extended sanctions against Russia for poisoning and imprisoning Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.
The dust with the Chinese has sparked some solidarity among Republican lawmakers, who have tried to attack Biden for being too soft with China.
“I have a lot of political disagreements with the Biden Administration, but every American should unite against the tyrants of Beijing. Secretary [Antony] Blinken and national security adviser Sullivan were right in saying “it’s never good to bet on the United States” and should continue to stand firm by exposing President Xi’s false lies, “the senator said. Ben Sasse
Ben Sasse: Russia and China increase tensions with the White House for the Law for the People Proclaiming Democracy, but Usurp Democratic Decisions Is Nonpartisan Efficiency Still Possible? MONTH (R-Neb.), Member of the Senate Selective Intelligence Committee, said in a statement Friday.
The Biden administration has said it intends to approach Beijing from a position of strength, using the recently approved coronavirus relief package as an example of economic resilience and talks with allies and associated nations as a show of strength. agreement and understanding of international standards and norms.
Deputy Chief Press Officer of the White House Karine Jean-Pierre
Karine Jean-Pierre: Tensions in Russia and China are rising with the White House, Biden and Harris discussing voting rights with Stacey Abrams in Atlanta Trump Jr. shares an edited video showing the father knocking down Biden with a MORE golf ball he suggested to reporters aboard Air Force One that the rhetoric of Chinese officers was aimed at a national audience and acknowledged that officials entered the meeting knowing that the talks would be “tough.”
Chinese officials denounced U.S. efforts to rally allies, and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told the Alaska meeting, “I don’t think the vast majority of countries in the world recognize that values universally defended by the United States … could represent international public opinion. “
Blinken replied, “I have to tell you, what I feel is very different from what you described.”
The secretary arrived in Alaska after his first face-to-face meetings with allies in Japan and South Korea, following Biden’s virtual meeting with leaders from India, Australia and Japan, informally called on the Quad and shared by all their concerns about Beijing.
“The Chinese appeared to be on the defensive after the first quad summit of last week’s success and the visits of US Secretaries of State and Defense to Japan and South Korea earlier in the week.” said Lisa Curtis, who served as National Security Council Director in South and Central Asia under Trump.
“Given the many challenges China poses to US interests: human rights in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong; aggressive military behaviors throughout the Indo-Pacific; and the economic coercion of American allies: it may be a good thing for both sides to eliminate diplomatic delicacies and get straight to the heart of their differences, “added Curtis, who is a senior member of the Center for New American Security.
Anthony Ruggiero, a former senior director of the National Security Council and a senior member of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, said he sees the more aggressive rhetoric of Moscow and Beijing as an initial test for the Biden administration.
“It could be an effort by both of them to press against this administration to see if they are willing to back down, either through sanctions or other possible responses,” he said.
Ruggier added: “I think yesterday’s comments at the Alaska meetings really show that the Chinese show in public what they do in private, that they try to intimidate people, and properly, the Biden administration backed down. “.
Blinken will head to Brussels on Monday for meetings with senior NATO officials, the European Union and Belgian leaders, with Russia and China expected to be on the agenda.
“We hope, even as you have seen in recent days, that our relationship with Russia will continue to be a challenge,” Philip Reeker, acting secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, said on Friday. “It is clear that NATO is well aware of this. And I think we are ready for that. ”
Russia and China have increasingly aligned their interests on the world stage, said Kendall-Taylor of the Center for New American Security, and want to back down on what they see as a weakening U.S..
“Their ultimate goals were aligned and they still are. They both want to pull back the United States, move the international order away from something less dominated by the United States, ”he said.
“In their actions, Russia is more of a disruptor, China prefers fewer clashes, but they both work towards the same goals.”