Relations between the United States and Russia and China under President Biden
Joe Biden Russia, China Tensions Rise With White House New Challenges Emerge For Biden After Strong Start Feinstein Opens Door To Support Filibuster Reform MORE embark on a difficult and hostile start.
Biden agreed this week with an interviewer’s assessment of that Russian president Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin Russia, China Tensions Rise With White House Biden vs. Putin: Round One Erdoğan Calls Biden’s Comments About Putin ‘Unacceptable’ MORE was a “murderer” and said he would pay to interfere in US elections. Putin responded by wishing Biden “ good health, ” a response that everyone who listened to about the poisonings of Kremlin dissidents.
A day later, US and Chinese officials exchanged sharp words at their first meeting since Biden was inaugurated, with Beijing indicating that the US should be more concerned about democracy within its borders than outside.
The Biden government hopes to counter Russia and China by strengthening US alliances and working with partners to put pressure on both 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, a senior fellow and director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, said the harsh talk is no surprise given the strength Moscow and Beijing believe they have gained during the Trump years.
“Especially after four years of the Trump administration, which created a very tolerant environment for authoritarians to assert themselves, this is kind of a continuation of many of the trends we’ve seen in recent years,” she said.
Despite the contradictions, the Biden administration hopes to work with both countries on areas of shared understanding, such as tackling climate change and restoring the Iran nuclear deal, with China and Russia both signatories.
But the president has also rallied allies to vigorously denounce human rights violations in both countries and impose charges by coordinating sanctions.
Critics of the Trump administration see Biden’s approach as a relief, given Trump’s friendly overtures to Putin and his undercutting of official assessments of Moscow’s aggressive behavior.
The Biden government has extended sanctions against Russia over the poisoning and imprisonment of 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 on China.
“I have a lot of policy differences with the Biden government, but every American should unite against the tyrants of Beijing. Secretary [Antony] Blinken and National Security Adviser Sullivan were right when they said ‘it’s never okay to bet against America’ and they should remain determined to expose Chairman Xi’s fraudulent lies, ”Sen. Ben Sasse
Ben Sasse Russia, China Tensions are rising with the White House ‘For the People Act’ evokes democracy, but appropriates democratic choices. Is impartial effectiveness still possible? LAKE (R-Neb.), A member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in a statement Friday.
The Biden administration has said it wants to approach Beijing from a strong position, using the recently adopted coronavirus aid package as an example of economic resilience and talks with allies and partner countries as a demonstration of agreement and understanding of international rules and standards.
Deputy White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
Karine Jean-Pierre Russia, China Tensions Rise with White House Biden and Harris Discuss Voting Rights with Stacey Abrams in Atlanta Trump Jr. shares edited video showing dad taking down Biden with golf ball MORE suggested to reporters on board Air Force One that the Chinese officials’ rhetoric was aimed at a domestic audience and acknowledged that officials entered the meeting knowing the talks would be “difficult.”
Chinese officials denounced US efforts to rally allies, with Chinese foreign affairs director Yang Jiechi saying at the Alaska meeting, “I don’t think the vast majority of countries in the world would recognize that universal values advocated by the United States. … could represent international public opinion. “
Blinken replied, “I have to tell you, what I hear 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, following Biden’s virtual meeting with leaders from India, Australia and Japan, informally calling the Quad, and all of whom share concerns about Beijing.
“The Chinese seemed to be on the defensive after last week’s very successful first-ever Quad summit and the visits of the US Secretary of State and Defense to Japan and South Korea earlier this week,” said Lisa Curtis, who served as National Security. Director of the Council for South and Central Asia under Trump.
“Given the numerous challenges China poses for the interests of the United States – human rights in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong; aggressive military behavior in the Indo-Pacific; and economic coercion from US allies – it may be a good thing that the two sides have abolished diplomatic niceties and got straight to the heart of their disagreements, ”added Curtis, who is a senior fellow at the Center for New American Security. .
Anthony Ruggiero, former senior director of the National Security Council and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said he sees Moscow and Beijing’s more aggressive rhetoric as an early test for the Biden government.
“It could be an effort by both to put pressure on this government to see if they are willing to push back, either through sanctions or other possible responses,” he said.
Ruggier added, “I think yesterday’s comments at the Alaska rallies really show that the Chinese are – publicly showing what they do in private, which is bullying people and, rightly, pushing back the Biden administration.”
Blinken will go to Brussels on Monday to meet with senior officials from NATO, the European Union and Belgian leaders, with Russia and China expected to be on the agenda.
“We expect – even as you have seen in recent days – that our relationship with Russia will continue to be challenging,” Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker said in a briefing with reporters on Friday. “It is clear that NATO is well aware of this. And it’s one that I think we’re prepared for. ”
Russia and China have increasingly aligned their interests with the world stage, said Kendall-Taylor of the Center for New American Security, and want to push back on what they see as a weakening US.
“Their ultimate goals were aligned and they still are. They both want to push the US back, shift the international order from something less US dominated, ”she said.
“In their actions, Russia is more of a disruptor, China prefers less confrontation, but they are both working towards the same goals.”