Relations between the United States and Russia and China under President biden
Joe BidenRussia, China, tensions rise with the White House New challenges arise for Biden after a strong start Feinstein opens doors to support obstruction reform MORE they are having a difficult and hostile start.
Biden this week agreed with an interviewer’s assessment that the Russian president Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinRussia, China heightens tensions with the White House Biden vs. Putin: First Round Erdoğan considers Biden’s comments on Putin ‘unacceptable’ MORE he was a “killer” and said he would pay for interference in the American elections. Putin responded by wishing Biden “good health”, a replica that reminded anyone who was listening to the Kremlin’s dissident poisonings.
A day later, American and Chinese officials exchanged harsh words at their first meeting since Biden’s inauguration, with Beijing indicating that the United States should be more concerned with democracy within its borders than outside.
The Biden government hopes to combat Russia and China by strengthening U.S. alliances and working together with partners to pressure the two countries to change their behavior.
The antagonistic signals from Moscow and Beijing show the Biden government that the two countries are also ready to face the United States.
Andrea Kendall-Taylor, senior researcher and director of the Center for a New American Security’s Transatlantic Security Program, said the harsh speech is not a surprise, given the strength Moscow and Beijing believe to have gained during the Trump years.
“Especially from four years of the Trump administration, which has created a very permissive environment for authoritarians to assert themselves, this is a kind of continuation of many of the trends we have seen in recent years,” she said.
Despite the antagonism, the Biden government hopes to work with the two countries in areas of common accord, such as tackling climate change and repairing the nuclear deal with Iran, to which China and Russia are signatories.
But the president also called on allies to firmly denounce human rights abuses in both countries and impose costs on coordinating sanctions.
Critics of the Trump administration see Biden’s approach as a breath of fresh air, given Trump’s friendly openings towards Putin and his containment of official assessments of Moscow’s aggressive behavior.
The Biden government has extended sanctions against Russia for the poisoning and imprisonment of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.
The disagreement with the Chinese has generated a certain amount of solidarity among Republican lawmakers, who have been trying to attack Biden for being too soft on China.
“I have a lot of political disagreements with the Biden administration, but every American should unite against the Beijing tyrants. secretary [Antony] Blinken and National Security Adviser Sullivan were right to say ‘it is never good to bet against America’ and must continue to stand firm, exposing President Xi’s fraudulent lies, ”said the senator. Ben Sasse
Ben SasseRussia, China tensions rise with White House ‘People’s Law’ proclaims democracy, but usurps democratic choices. Is nonpartisan effectiveness still possible? MOST (R-Neb.), A member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement on Friday.
The Biden government said it plans to approach Beijing with a strong stance, using the recently approved coronavirus relief package as an example of economic resilience and talks with allies and partner nations as a demonstration of agreement and understanding of international rules and standards.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
Karine Jean-PierreRussia, China, tensions rise with White House Biden and Harris discuss voting rights with Stacey Abrams in Atlanta Trump Jr. shares edited video showing dad knocking down Biden with golf ball MORE he suggested to reporters aboard Air Force One that the Chinese officials’ rhetoric was aimed at a domestic audience and acknowledged that officers entered the meeting knowing that the conversations would be “difficult”.
Chinese officials denounced US efforts to bring allies together, with China’s foreign affairs director, Yang Jiechi, saying at the Alaskan meeting: “I don’t think the overwhelming majority of countries in the world would recognize that the universal values upheld by the United States … It could represent international public opinion. “
Blinken replied, “I have to tell you, what I am hearing is very different from what you have described.”
The secretary arrived in Alaska after his first face-to-face meetings with allies in Japan and South Korea, after Biden’s virtual meeting with leaders from India, Australia and Japan, informally called the Quad and who share concerns about Beijing.
“The Chinese seemed to be on the defensive after the first successful Quad summit last week and the visits by the 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 for South and Central Asia under Trump.
“Given the countless challenges that China poses to the interests of the United States – human rights in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong; aggressive military behavior across the Indo-Pacific; and economic coercion from the United States’ allies – it can be a good thing that the two sides eliminated diplomatic subtleties and went 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 saw the more aggressive rhetoric in Moscow and Beijing as an initial test for the Biden government.
“It may be an effort by both of them to press against this government to see if they are willing to react, whether through sanctions or other possible responses,” he said.
Ruggier added: “I think yesterday’s comments at the Alaskan meetings really show that the Chinese – show in public what they do in private, which is trying to intimidate people and, appropriately enough, the Biden government has backed down.”
Blinken is going to Brussels on Monday for meetings with senior NATO, European Union officials 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 remains a challenge,” said acting deputy secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip Reeker, at a news conference on Friday. “Clearly, NATO is very aware of this. And I think we are prepared for that. ”
Russia and China have increasingly aligned their interests on the global stage, said Kendall-Taylor of the Center for New American Security, and are trying to prevent what they see as a weakening of the United States.
“His final goals were aligned and still are. They both want to retreat over the United States, to move the international order away from something that is less dominated by the United States, ”she said.
“In their actions, Russia is more disturbing, China prefers less confrontation, but the two are working towards the same goals.”