U.S. ties with Russia, China tested
WASHINGTON — U.S. relations with its two biggest geopolitical rivals are facing severe tests as President Joe Biden tries to assert America’s place in the world and distinguish himself from his predecessor.
Airing myriad complaints, the administration took an extraordinarily tough line with China and Russia this past week. Public spats between the countries erupted as Mr. Biden characterized Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “killer” and his top national security aides excoriated Chinafor a litany of issues.
Moscow and Beijing both firedback, setting the stage for months,if not more, of escalating tensions that are unlikely to be resolved without intense discussions at the leadership level and major concessions fromall sides.
Mr. Biden himself kicked off the latest round of recrimination in a television interview in which he sought to draw clear differences between his Russia policies and those of former President Donald Trump. who was
accused of being soft on Mr. Putin. Just 24 hours later, Mr. Biden’s top diplomat and national security adviser blasted Chinese officials in face-toface
Although Mr. Biden’s strong comments about Mr. Putin reflected a shift from Mr. Trump’s often conciliatory approach to the Kremlin, the harsh criticism directed at China by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan
in many ways mirrored the previous administration’s hardline toward Beijing.
The contrasting styles suggested Mr. Biden is intent on reversing years of perceived U.S. weakness toward Russia while rejecting Mr. Trump’s 2020 campaign allegations that he’s not tough enough on China.
In taking a strong line on Russia, Mr. Biden has said the days of the U.S. “rolling over” to Mr. Putin are done. And, in the interview with ABC broadcast on Wednesday, Mr. Biden replied “I do” when asked if he thought Mr. Putin was a “killer.” Russia responded by recalling its ambassador in Washington for consultations.
Mr.Putin then shot back by pointing to the U.S. history of slavery, the slaughter of Native Americans and the atomic bombing of Japan in World War II in an “it-takesone-to-know-one”response.
As that was unfolding, on Thursday in Alaska, China’s top two diplomats reacted in similar fashion to criticism fromMr. Blinken and Mr. Sullivan about Beijing’s human rights record in the western Xinjiang region and Tibet and its aggressive actions in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the South ChinaSea.
Communist Party foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the U.S. of hypocrisy for condemning China while at the same time grappling with itsown internal issues, including violence against Asian Americans and other people of color and political unrest followingthe 2020 presidential election.
Mr. Blinken and Mr. Sullivan took umbrage at those comments and replied that the U.S. was not perfect but sought to openly and honestly addresssuch matters. Mr. Sullivan said Americans’ willingness to confront their shortcomings was the “secret sauce”of U.S. success.
Andthey sought to reframe U.S.-China relations in the context of the Biden administration’s resolve to correct those issues, strengthen the U.S. economy and improve ties with democratic allies in Asia,such as Australia, Japan andSouth Korea.
Mr. Blinken, having just finished a trip to Japan and South Korea with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, made clear to the Chinese the U.S. is alignedwith its allies.
“I have to tell you, what I’m hearing is very different from what you described,” he told Mr. Wang and Mr. Yang. “I’m hearing deep satisfaction that the United States is back, that we’re re-engaged with our allies and partners. I’m also hearing deep concern about some of the actions your governmenthas taken.”