US President Joe Biden issued a harsh warning about China on Thursday – calling it America’s “most serious competitor” and saying the United States must improve its game or China (in quotes), “lunch “
“If we don’t move, they’ll eat our lunch.”
Biden’s comments were made during a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators about the need to update US infrastructure.
The president mentioned a two-hour phone call he had with Chinese President Xi Jinping the night before – the first with Xi since taking office – and how China was increasing its rail and electric vehicle technology, calling for similar infrastructure improvements were among the areas that the US needed to focus on to compete.
“They are investing a lot of money, they are investing billions of dollars and dealing with a whole range of issues that relate to transport, the environment and a number of other things. We just have to step up. “
During the call, Biden also expressed “fundamental” concerns about Beijing’s “coercive and unfair” business practices (quote), as well as human rights issues – including China’s crackdown in Hong Kong.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Biden also expressed concern about China’s lack of transparency regarding the coronavirus.
Xi told Biden that the confrontation between the two nations would be a (quoted quote) “disaster” and that they should reestablish the means to avoid errors of judgment, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
Biden told the senators that he had a good conversation with Xi and that he had known him well since he was vice president.
But a senior government official told reporters ahead of the call that Biden would be (in quotes) “practical, tough-headed, clear-eyed” in his dealings with Xi.
Video transcription
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: I stayed on the phone for two hours straight with Xi Jinping.
– US President Joe Biden issued a stern warning about China on Thursday, calling it America’s most serious competitor and saying the United States must improve its game or China “will eat our lunch”.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: If we don’t move, they’ll eat our lunch.
– Biden’s comments were made during a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators about the need to update US infrastructure. The president mentioned a two-hour phone call he had with Chinese President Xi Jinping the night before, the first with Xi since taking office, and how China was increasing its rail and electric vehicle technology, insisting that similar infrastructure improvements were among the areas the US needed to focus to compete.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: They will invest a lot of money. They are investing billions of dollars and dealing with a number of issues related to transportation, the environment and a number of other things. We just have to step up.
– During the call, Biden also expressed fundamental concerns about Beijing’s “coercive and unfair” business practices, as well as human rights issues, including China’s crackdown in Hong Kong.
JEN PSAKI: The President, during his call, certainly expressed concern about the lack of transparency.
– White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Biden also expressed concern about China’s lack of transparency regarding the coronavirus. She said Biden’s confrontation between the two nations would be a “disaster” and that they should re-establish the means to avoid errors of judgment, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Biden told the senators that he had a good conversation with Xi and that he had known him well since he was vice president. But a senior government official told reporters before the call that Biden would be “practical, tough-headed and clear-eyed” in his dealings with Xi.