China downplays Biden’s vow to confront it, says both countries can do ‘big things’

China gave a muted response to US President Joe Biden’s twin policy approach of confrontation with Beijing on challenges it posed and cooperation to further American interests, saying both countries can achieve “big things” together and their common interests far outweigh their differences.

In his first foreign policy address, US President Biden on Thursday described China as the “most serious competitor” to the US and vowed to confront Beijing on various fronts, including human rights, intellectual property and economic policy.

Biden said his administration would, “take on directly the challenges posed [to] our prosperity, security and democratic values by our most serious competitor: China”.

“We will confront China’s economic abuses, counter its aggressive, coercive action to push back on China’s attack on human rights, intellectual property and global governance,” Biden said in his address to State Department employees at its Foggy Bottom headquarters in Washington.

“But we are ready to work with Beijing when it is in America’s interest to do so. We will compete from a position of strength by building back better at home, working with our allies and partners, renewing our role in international institutions, and reclaiming our credibility and moral authority, much of which has been lost,” he said, giving a glimpse of his administration’s policies on China.